The New York University men's basketball team was defeated by Emory University 83-69 in a University Athletic Association (UAA) game on Friday, January 17, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan.
The host Violets (7-6, 0-2) never had a lead against the #3-ranked (
D3hoops.com) Eagles (12-1, 2-0).
NYU fell behind early in the contest and trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half. Down 40-27 with just over four minutes to play, the Violets went on a 12-4 run to end the half and pull within five, 44-39, at the break.
Jimmy Martinelli (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South) carried most of the load for NYU over the first 20 minutes, leading all players with 14 points. He and teammates
Harrison Whatley (Mount Pleasant, SC/Porter Gaud) and
Bobby Hawkinson (Frankfort, IL/Marist) each had a team-best four rebounds as the Violets garnered a 24-15 edge in that category
However, it was Emory's 56.3% shooting (18-of-32) from the field that was most responsible for providing its halftime lead.
The Eagles scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 14-point lead. But, again the Violets fought back, countering with a 14-0 run and knotting the game at 53-53.
Then, with the game tied 55-55, Emory went on a 17-0 run and the Violets never got closer than 14 points the rest of the way.
"I was proud that we came back and tied the game against a very talented offensive team," said Head Coach
Dagan Nelson. "But, when you have seven assists and 18 turnovers, well, you can't give a team like Emory 18 extra possessions."
Martinelli finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Ethan Feldman (New York, NY/The Salisbury School) (11 points) was the only other Violet to score in double figures.
Hawkinson grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds as NYU out-rebounded Emory 43-29.
The Eagles' Romin Williams led all scorers with 25 points.
"They shot 12 of 17 from the three-point line and we shot 3-17," Nelson revealed. "That was one of the biggest differences in the game."
The Violets return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host the University of Rochester in another UAA contest. Tipoff is set for 12:00pm at the Sportsplex.
