Gordon Men's Basketball traveled to Boston tonight for a non-conference duel with Emerson College and handed the host Lions a 105-85 loss to kick off the 2018-19 campaign.

The matchup marked only the second time ever the two teams have met, the first of which was an 89-62 W for the Fighting Scots last season. It was the first of eight non-league head-to-heads for Gordon this season, while Emerson's schedule features 11 non-NEWMAC opponents.
 
Senior Garrisson Duvivier led the way for the Scots with 22 points, 16 boards, and four blocks, while fellow classmate Jake Haar totaled 21 points (15 of which were from behind the arc) and eight rebounds. Sophomore Parker Omslaer put up big numbers as well, netting 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

For the Lions, Geoffrey Gray (Sr./Newton, Mass.) notched a game-leading 30 points in 40 minutes of action, while Zach Waterhouse (Fr./Hampton, N.H.) booked 18 points in his collegiate debut.

How It Happened:

• During the first half, both teams traded baskets for a total of 16 lead changes and nine ties. The largest lead came at the 10:39 mark after a Waterhouse layup put Emerson up, 25-22.
• Duvivier made a three for the Scots' go ahead, 30-28, a few minutes later, and almost on cue Emerson answered back with a three from Gray to regain the lead. That was the last lead the home team would take as the Scots went on a nine-point run to build a buffer.
• Gray again worked his magic from distance to cut the deficit to four, but Haar answered right back with a trey of his own to keep Gordon in control with a 45-38 lead going into halftime.
• In the second frame, an Eric Demers three midway through gave Gordon its largest lead of the game to that point, 81-64. The Scots' largest lead came with less than two minutes left to play when Haar drove to make it a 100-80 ballgame.
• The Scots went to the free throw line 30 times on the night, 19 of which came with eight minutes remaining in the second.
• Gordon was dominant in the paint, outscoring Emerson, 52-26, behind an impressive 18 offensive rebounds. 

Beyond The Box Score:

• The Scots' 20-point win margin is the largest opening game win since 2005 when Gordon took a 93-71 victory over Framingham State.
• Parker Omslaer had a stellar night, recording new career highs in minutes (25), points (19), and rebounds (11).
• Said Head Coach Tod Murphy: "We did what we needed to do to win, and a road win is always a good thing, but our defense needs to improve significantly if we want to contend this year in the CCC."