From Emory University Athletics

The No. 6-ranked Emory men's basketball team closed out its participation at the Lopata Classic on a successful note Saturday evening, registering a decisive victory over the University of La Verne.  The Eagles boosted their record to 6-1 following an 80-59 verdict over the Leopards who dropped to 2-2.

Senior Alex Foster paced three Emory double-figure scorers with 13 points, his seventh double-digit outing of the year, while senior Michael Florin added 12 points, 10 coming in the second half, and sophomore Austin DaGue chipping in 10 points.  Florin also doled out seven assists with just one turnover in 21 minutes of action. 

Emory blew the game wide open, starting the second half with a devastating 21-6 barrage, which saw Florin score 10 consecutive Eagle points, six coming on a pair of three pointers, allowing them to claim a 57-28 lead with 14:40 left in the contest.  Emory outpointed La Verne by a 44-37 margin over the final 20 minutes of play, aided by sophomore Jonathan Terry who scored all eight of his points in the second stanza.

The Eagles wound up the game shooting 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the floor, including 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from three-point range.  La Verne connected on 38.3 percent (23-of-60) from the field (fifth time this year an opponent shot less than 40 percent vs. Emory) and struggled from distance, converting just 18.8 percent (3-of-16) of its opportunities.  The Eagles enjoyed a 48-36 margin in the rebounding department, and were led by senior Josh Schattie who grabbed 10 caroms, his second game this season in double digits.

Sparked by Foster's 11 points and eight points from DaGue,  Emory went into halftime with a healthy 36-22 lead.  Holding a 7-4 lead, the Eagles went on a 17-6 run, with Dague accounting for all of his first-half points in that stretch, to bolt to a 24-10 advantage.  Emory would lead by as many as 17 points, 31-14 with 6:39 on the clock, after sophomore Jim Gordon scored five consecutive Eagles points.  A three-pointer by the Leopards' Kendall McClain drew them to within 11 points, but a three-point play by Foster with 1:37 remaining closed out the scoring for the half.  Emory shot 38.9 percent (14-of-36) from the floor compared to La Verne's 33.3 percent (10-of-33) showing.  The Eagles, led by Schattie's five boards, held a 27-18 cushion in the rebounding.

Both Florin and Foster were named to the Lopata Classic All-Tournament Team.