NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team rallied from its largest deficit of the season after trailing the majority of regulation and defeated Emerson College, 87-81 in overtime on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference tilt.

The win keeps the Falcons undefeated at 5-0. Deivone Tanksley (Hartford, Conn.) had his first double-double of his career with 14 points and ten rebounds, including a big-time layup in traffic during overtime to help seal the win. Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.) had 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks on the day.

Albertus remains in first place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). It is the lone undefeated team in the conference.

THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 87 | Emerson 81 (OT)
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (5-0) | Emerson (2-4)
BOXSCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Emerson stunned Albertus early, scoring the first seven points of the game over the first two minutes, including a three from Lucas Brenner. After a timeout, the Falcons got on the board on a layup from Saikwon Williams (Norwalk, Conn.) a three from Tazhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.), and a steal and layup from Kevin Crawford (Bridgeport, Conn.) to make it a 9-7 game at the 15:36 mark.
• The Lions pulled the lead back out to 17-9 after a three from Guilllermo Gassett Ruiz, but again Albertus would rally scoring the next eight points, capped by a layup and free throw from Tanksley that tied the game at 17-17 with 12:38 remaining in the first half.
• A 12-4 run over the next three minutes by the Lions put them back up 29-21 as three different players hit a three during the run.
• Tanksley and Jeyson Slade (Stamford, Conn.) both hit threes to close the gap to 32-28, but a 9-3 run from Emerson put Albertus in unfamiliar territory as it trailed 41-31 with 4:19 remaining. It was the largest deficit - and first double-digit deficit - the Falcons faced during the season so far. The Lions would go up by ten points two more times, but two free throws from Daniels with 1:14 left cut Emerson's lead to 44-36 into the half.
• The Falcons did not allow a point over the final 1:55 of the first half. Tanksley finished with nine points and six rebounds in the first half in just seven minutes of action while Daniels scored eight for Albertus.
• Washington scored the first seven points of the second half for the Falcons as they trailed just 47-43 just over three minutes into the half. 
• The teams played evenly throughout the next six minutes and the Falcons were finally able to tie the game in the second half at 56-56 on a dunk by Tanksley with 10:22 remaining.
• Emerson took a one point lead on the following possession but the Falcons couldn't capitalize and take their first lead of the game.
• Albertus tied the game at 61-61 on a three from Slade, but Emerson rattled off the next seven points to go back up 68-61 with just 5:23 left.
• The Falcons answered the run quickly and scored nine straight of their own - including a three from Antonio Bonilla (Tenafly, N.J.) -  and finally took the lead for the first time at the 2:16 mark of the second half - when Crawford sank two free throws to put Albertus up 70-68.
• After Emerson tied the game back up at 70-70, Daniels hit a free-throw line jumper while getting fouled. He would make the free throw to put Albertus up 73-70 with 40 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Arico was fouled on a three-point attempt as he sank all three to tie the game, eventually sending the game into overtime.
• In overtime, Emerson took an early 78-74 lead just over a minute into the extra period, capped by a three from Brenner. 
• Albertus would get to within one on a steal and layup from Malcolm Duncanson (West Haven, Conn.) and would take the lead on the next possession after two free throws from Washington that made it a 79-78 game.
• A missed layup from Brendan McNamara on the next possession put the ball back in the Falcons hands. With ten seconds left on the shot clock, Gabe Herling fed Tanksley down low who made a tough layup while being fouled by McNamara and putting Albertus up 81-78 with 1:04 left.
• Emerson made a free throw on the next possession, but Washington responded with a layup of his own, giving Albertus an 83-79 lead with 27 seconds left. Emerson got back to within two points, but Albertus sank its final four free throws to seal the win. 

TEAM STATS
Albertus  40.9 FG% | 36.8 3PT% | 65.0 FT%
Emerson 35.6 FG% | 45.5 3PT% | 76.3 FT%

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
Albertus
Deivone Tanksley 14 Points | 10 Rebounds | 5-8 FG
Justice Washington 21 Points | 7 Rebounds | 3 Blocks
Tazhon Daniels 15 Points | 4 Assists | 5 Steals
Kevin Crawford 7 Points | 8 Rebounds | 7 Assists | 3 Steals
Malcolm Duncanson 11 Points | 4-4 FG 

Emerson
Trevor Arico 32 Points | 4-10 3PT | 8-15 FG
Lucas Brenner 11 Points | 3-4 3PT
Guillermo Gassett Ruiz 13 Points | 12 Rebounds | 6 Assists 

NOTEWORTHY

• The win was the sixth straight for Albertus over Emerson in their all-time head-to-head series. Emerson still leads the overall series, 23-16.
• Tanksley's points and rebounds were both career-highs.
• It was the second overtime game of the season for the Falcons, who beat Montclair State in double overtime on November 16. The Falcons had only two games go into overtime over the last two seasons combined.
• There were seven ties and three lead changes.
• Albertus won its fifth straight game to start the season for the first time since 2015-2016 when they accomplished the same feat. The program record is seven straight wins to start the season, done by both the 2013-2014 and 2012-2013 teams.
• Duncanson's 11 points were a season-high.
• The bench scored 34 points on the day for Albertus. It was the second most it scored this season and second straight with over 30 points.

UP NEXT
The Falcons face a big test as they take on Keene State on Tuesday, November 28 in the nest on the campus of Albertus Magnus.