THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Emerson College 79, MIT 72
 
- Records: MIT (9-7, 2-4 NEWMAC); Emerson College (11-4, 4-2 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: Trailing by 21 with 8:07 left in the second half, the MIT men's basketball team rallied to within five in the final minute before dropping the eventual 79-72 home final to Emerson College on Saturday afternoon at Rockwell Cage.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Over the first 20 minutes, the teams exchanged scoring runs with Emerson striking first with the 12-6 advantage following a Zach Waterhouse three just 3:46 into the game. The Engineers answered quickly though with a 15-4 scoring spurt, capped by a three-pointer from senior Ian Hinkley (Raleigh, N.C.) that put the hosts in front by a 21-16 margin.
 
- MIT kept the lead until the 4:40 mark when Nate Martin connected on a three for the Lions to put the visitors back in front by a 30-29 score. That lead pushed to as many as five with 2:41 before the break, but two baskets from MIT senior Julian Manyika (San Francisco, Calif.) pulled the Engineers within 36-34 at the half.
 
- With the game sitting at 45-41 in favor of Emerson early in the second, the Lions erupted for a 23-7 run over a span of 8:30 to seize their biggest lead at 68-47. The run featured a pair of thunderous dunks from Emerson's Jarred Houston that brought the visitor's bench to its feet, but the Engineers settled down and climbed back into the game.
 
- Still trailing by 19 with 4:50 left in the contest, junior Tim Kostolansky (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and Hinkley teamed up for MIT's next 16 points as the Engineers were within five at 75-70 following the sixth three-pointer of the game by Hinkley with 38 seconds left. Time ran out on the MIT rally though as the Lions knocked down four free throws in the final moments to secure the victory in the first of two meetings between the two teams this season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Hinkley nearly posted his fourth straight double-double as he finished with a game-high 27 points to go along with nine rebounds in 40 minutes. Kostolansky was a great spark off the bench as he had 13 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Junior Alex Cho (San Diego, Calif.) also finished in double figures with 12 points and a game-high five assists.
 
- For Emerson, Houston tallied a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double on 6-for-10 shooting from field, while Martin led the team with 21 points before an 11-for-14 performance at the free throw line. Waterhouse added 10 points and James Beckwith posted 14 points and six boards.
 
- The teams were fairly even in shooting from the field and three-point land, while the Lions outscored MIT by a 22-14 margin at the free throw line. Behind Kostolansky's 13-point game, the Engineers did outscore Emerson 24-5 in bench points.
 
- Emerson outrebounded MIT 42-36 and had 21 assists on 24 made field goals.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- The Engineers are back in action at home on Wednesday, January 26th as Wheaton College visits Rockwell Cage for a NEWMAC contest beginning at 8 p.m. Please note that only members of the MIT community who are in the Covid Pass system may attend home athletic events during IAP.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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