LEXINGTON, Va. - The EMU men's basketball team headed south on Saturday, taking on Washington and Lee in the next-to-last game of the season. 

The Royals held a 33-31 lead at the break, but W&L outscored EMU by six in the second half to pull away with a 73-69 win. 

Records: EMU 5-19, 1-14 ODAC | Washington and Lee 15-8, 9-5 ODAC

Highlights

First Half
W&L got out to a 6-0 lead before back-to-back threes from Julien Hagerman and Zach Bailey tied the game up. Hagerman drilled another three to give the Royals a 9-8 lead, but W&L retook the lead, 12-9. Isaiah Carr and Aviwe Mahlong got in on the three-point shooting contest, hitting treys to put EMU up 15-12. Later in the half, with the Generals leading 19-17, EMU used a 9-0 run, highlighted by points from Kai Johnson, Carr and Gabriel Campbell, to take a 26-19 advantage. Two Donovan Arnason free throws helped the Royals to their biggest lead of the game, nine points, but W&L was able to whittle it down to two at the half. 

Second Half
The Generals started the second half like the first, on a 5-0 run and retaking the lead, which they held to the 12:48 mark of the second half. But threes from Bailey and Arnason tied the game at 48 and later on, baskets from Jazen Walker and Jalen Jones, put EMU on top 54-52. But W&L was able to move back in front and even extend their lead to as many as seven. EMU continued to fight, and even pulled within two after a jumper from Mahlong with 13 seconds left, but a pair of free throws from the Generals iced the game, helping W&L pick up the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Points: Hagerman (12), Mahlong (11), Arnason (10 - Career High)
Rebounds: Jones (6)
Assists: Daijordan Brown: (4)
Blocks: Jones (3)

What's Next
EMU will wrap up the 2023-24 season next Saturday, when they travel down to Salem to take on Roanoke College. Tipoff against the Maroons is set for 2 pm. 

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