best of:
men’s basketball 2022-23
Coming back from a loss in the 2021-22 NEWMAC Championship and early departure from the NCAA DIII tournament, the Lions were ranked 3rd in the conference preseason polls. They lost sharpshooter Zach Waterhouse and team hypeman Trevor McLean to graduation, but Nate Martin and Jarred Houston returned for a graduate year with unfinished business. The program brought in five first-year students and transfer graduate student Sean Coman to the lineup, looking to fill in the gaps of the 2022 graduating class.
Before starting conference play in January, the team went 5-6 with some confidence-slashing losses. They returned with a win over Babson and didn’t look back, finishing 16-10.
RECAP
Jarred Houston (center) takes a moment before the first game of the season against Gordon. Final: W, 95-51
Graduates (l-r) Chad DiCenzo, Trevor McLean, and Zach Waterhouse react as Sean Coman and Ben Allen high five during a timeout versus Gordon.
The bench reacts to a failure-to-call during the November 16 match-up with Bridgewater State. Final: L, 81-79
Ben Allen, James Beckwith, and Jarred Houston before introductions at Salem State on December 6, 2022, their final game before winter break. Final: W, 89-86
Sean Coman comes to the Lions as a graduate student from Hendrix College. He played his final season of eligibility at Emerson, where he surpassed 1,000 career points on January 4, 2023, against Babson.
Freshman Brendan McNamara came to the Lions with big shoes to fill. His brother, Colin, led Worcester Polytechnic Institute to the 2021-22 NEWMAC Championship after falling to Emerson in 2018-19. Final: L, 64-53
Davis attempts a pair of free throws with a mix-matched pair of socks. He went 2-2 from the line.
Houston takes a shot at WPI on January 14, 2023. He ended the game with 18 points.
Springfield College: the Birthplace of Basketball (and the best gym in the NEWMAC), January 25. Nate Martin, Jarred Houston, and Max Davis.
Martin attempts a basket at Springfield on his quest for 1,000 points needing to average ten or more in the conference play. He finished the night with twelve. Final: W, 74-66
I mean, just look at that ceiling! Houston's dunk is pretty cool, too. Springfield, January 25.
Words cannot express what Jarred Houston means to the Emerson men's basketball program. A Massachusetts native, Houston came into the program in dominate fashion ushering the team to the 2019 NEWMAC championship. He cashed in his year of eligibility to return as a graduate student in 2022-23 where he pulled down his 1,000th career rebound on January 11, 2023, against Clark (the previous season he hit is 1,000th career point against Clark).
Asher Gardiner pats Max Davis on the back after sinking a three against Wheaton on January 18. Davis finished the night with 16 points. Final: W, 89-86
Make it stand out
On February 8th, the men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted a doubleheader to raise awareness for mental health in athletes. They partnered with Doc Wayne Youth Services with the initial goal of $1000. After the ten day campaign they raised $2,714 for Doc Wayne in hopes of benefiting Boston youth in their mental health journey through sports.
The Lions faced U.S. Coast Guard Academy to close out the season series.
Top: James Beckwith and Steven Fabrizio warming up pregame.
Left: Jacob Armant shows off his moves pregame.
Final: W, 73-67
Nate Martin and his mom on senior day. Martin's mom attends nearly every game home and away.
Bryan Lupianez during introductions for his first career start against Springfield on February 11. He finished the game with a career high 14 points, going 3-3 from the three point line. Final: W, 99-71
Head coach Bill Curley and associate head Jack Barrett discuss during half-time in front of the locker room door featuring freshman Nate Martin.
Nate Martin is a graduate student from Washington D.C. He completed his bachelor degree spring 2022 at Emerson before deciding to come back to redeem his fourth year of athletic eligibility at the College. Martin became the fourth member of his class (Waterhouse, Houston, and Coman) to reach the coveted 1,000 career point club on February 11 against Springfield.
Lucas Brenner and Asher Gardiner stretch before facing MIT for the second match of the season on February 15. W, 86-56
Lions pull off an incredible last minute win to close the regular season February 18 at Wheaton. W, 77-75
Playoffs
The Lions secured the second seed of the NEWMAC tournament after going 11-3 in the conference. They automatically advanced to the semi-finals, where they hosted no. 3 Babson at the Bobby Brown and Steven Plofkner Gym. They were 1-1 in conference play with Babson in the 2022-23 season.
Unable to stop Babson’s Andrew Kirkpatrick (27 pts off the bench) and miserable fouls, Emerson fell to the Beavers 64-69.
The team lines up for the national anthem before the semi-final matchup against Babson.
Sean Coman attempts a three overlooked by a packed gym.
Curley expresses frustration with game calls with the referee.
Peyton Lodge distressed after the loss.