WORCESTER, Mass.  – The Clark University men's basketball team (12-12, 7-8 NEWMAC) hosted Emerson (9-14, 5-9 NEWMAC) for their senior day game and fell 81-72 to the Lions on Saturday afternoon from the Kneller Gymnasium.

Prior to the game, seniors Reid Neumann, Kadin Reed, Aedan Derrick, and Emmett Hamilton were honored for their contributions to the men's basketball program.

How it Happened

• The Cougars opened the game on a 7-3 run sparked by five points from sophomore Boluwasefe John and a made jumper from first-year Aliaun Iscandari before Emerson rattled off seven unanswered points.
• Sophomore Kyle Squires scored Clark's next five points before a layup from junior Christopher Clarke off a feed from fellow junior Malik Matanmi made it a 19-15 game in favor of the visitors.
• Brendan McNamara and Giulio Volonte netted the next five points of the contest before Iscandari ended the run with three points as Emerson held a 24-18 lead with 7:54 remaining in the first half.
• After trailing by seven, Clark scored 12 unanswered points sparked by 10 points from Neumann, including three triples and a made free throw and Iscandari added a pair of free throws to give the Cougars a 30-25 edge with 3:51 to go.
• Shay Roban and Neumann trade three-pointers before Jacob Armant rattled off six straight points to tie the contest at 33-33, but the Lions scored four of the final five points of the half to take a 37-34 edge into the locker room.
• Iscandari and Squires combined to score Clark's first six points of the second half as they took the lead at 40-38 before a layup from Linus Helmhold tied the game.
• Clark then went on a 11-3 run sparked by four points from Iscandari, three from Squires, and two from both Matanmi and Clarke as the Cougars held a 51-43 lead with 13:55 remaining.
• After four unanswered from the Lions, Iscandari and Matanmi combined for five points as the scarlet and white extended their advantage to 56-50.
• Emerson then rattled off 11 straight points before a free throw from Iscandari ended the run, but the Lions added six unanswered after that to take a 67-57 advantage with 4:53 to play.
• Iscandari hit a triple off a feed from Matanmi to bring the deficit back within single digits at seven before Asher Gardiner hit a pair of free throws.
• Iscandari scored five of Clark's next six points before a three-pointer from Neumann made it a 77-69 game with 1:03 remaining.
• The scarlet and white tallied three more points off an and-one from Iscandari as they fell 81-72.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark made 25 shots, grabbed 32 rebounds, and dished out 14 assists, and forced 21 turnovers.
• Iscandari led the team with 28 points, while also tallying eight assists and seven rebounds.
• Neumann added 16 points, including five made three-pointers.
• Squires also reached double-figures with 12 points.
• Clarke tied for a team-high with seven rebounds.

What's Next
Clark will close out the regular season with a road contest at Springfield on Wednesday night beginning at 7:00 p.m.