DUBUQUE, Iowa. – The Northland College Men's Basketball team was defeated in the season-opener 90-81 by Emmaus Bible College Saturday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa. Senior Jahlani Thornton recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Thornton recorded the first point of the season for Northland hitting a free throw. The Jacks found themselves trailing early 18-10 after a three-pointer from the Eagles. Gavin Bartlett connected from deep to start a scoring run for NC. Thornton capped off the eight-point run with a layup to cut the lead to two. With six minutes remaining, Iansan Simpson assisted on a two-point shot from Thornton for the Jacks to take their first lead of the game at 26-25. The lead did not last long with EBC regaining an eight-point advantage. Donovan Washington converted a three-point play to a 14-point rally. Marvin McBroom scored on back-to-back drives to put NC back on top. Northland took a 42-38-point lead into halftime.
 
Bartlett started the scoring in the second half after making a layup off a steal. The Eagles leveled the game after hitting a pair of three-pointers. McBoom hit his first three to put the Jacks on top by one. The lead continued to trade hands down the stretch with no one pulling too far ahead. Ari Pierson expanded the Northland lead to four after scoring in the paint. With five minutes remaining, the Eagles hit another three for the final lead change of the game. EBC continued to score and began to pull away from Northland until they had a 12-point lead with under two minutes remaining. The Jacks could not come back and fell 81-90.
 
Thornton led the Jacks offensively and defensively with 18 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double with Northland. Four other student-athletes reached double figures in points: Pierson, Simpson, Bartlett, and McBroom. Pierson paced the team with three assists. In rebounds, Pierson and Washington finished behind Thornton with eight. Pierson had the sole block for Northland.
 
The Jacks are in action again tomorrow (Sunday) with a 1 p.m., game with Loras College.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.