THE BASICS:

- Score: Emerson College 54, MIT 44

- Records: MIT (8-6, 1-2 NEWMAC); Emerson College (9-5, 2-1 NEWMAC)

- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)

- The Lead: On Wednesday night at Rockwell Cage, the MIT men's basketball team dropped a 54-44 final to visiting Emerson College in NEWMAC action.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- The Engineers got off to a slow start and trailed by seven at 17-10 with 12:57 left in the first half. MIT embarked on a quick 7-0 run though to tie the game as first-year Matas Masys (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) knocked down a three to make it 17-17.

- MIT led by as many as six at 32-26 with 3:57 remaining before the half on another Masys three-pointer before the teams headed into the break tied up at 36-36. The Engineers shot 46.4 percent from the field in the first half as the two teams combined for 10 three-pointers.

- In the second half, MIT was held scoreless over the first 9:44 of the period before Masys knocked down a jumper to pull the hosts to within 46-38. After a jumper from Jack O'Connor gave Emerson the double-digit edge 48-38, the Engineers cut the lead down to 48-42 with 5:17 on the clock despite hitting just two field goals in the period to that point.

- The Lions held MIT to just two points over the last five minutes to secure the 10-point victory as Emerson led by as many as 12 points in the final minute.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Masys led MIT with 14 points and six rebounds off the bench, while junior Ian Hinkley (Raleigh, N.C.) posted eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds. 

- For Emerson, O'Connor tallied a game-high 16 points and Jarred Houston finished with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double.

- The two teams combined for nine made field goals in the second half as MIT held Emerson to 22.2 percent shooting from the field in the period. MIT outrebounded Emerson by a 43-35 margin, while the Lions forced 17 Engineer turnovers and finished with 11 steals.

UP NEXT:  

- MIT is back in action on Saturday, January 18th as the Engineers travel to Wheaton College for a 1 p.m. start.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.