Rivier Men Come Up Just Short

BOSTON, Mass. – It was a tale of two halves as the Emerson College men's basketball team built a 39-21 halftime advantage then had to rally to win, as the Lions defeated Rivier College 64-61 in Great Northeast Athletic Conferenc e men's basketball action at Emerson's Brown & Plofker Gym.

The Lions squandered the lead by giving up 10 consecutive points to open the second half. The Raiders' Tom Poitras '11 (Bow, N.H.) scored twice in the first minute, Will Snider '12 (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a layup, and Don Poitras '11 (Bow, N.H.) dropped in a layup and two free throws to cut into the Emerson margin to eight just 3:20 into the period.

Emerson built the lead back to 13, but a 9-0 Rivier run cut the margin to 46-42 with 11:28 left. The teams traded baskets until a 6-0 Raider spurt capped by a Poitras layup cut the margin to 53-52. Emerson's Kabir Moss '11 (Chico, Calif.) stopped the bleeding temporarily with a jumper, but another Don Poitras layup and a Jake Nelson '14 (Nashua, N.H.) layup game the Raiders a 56-55 advantage. Snider then drilled two free throws to give Rivier its largest lead of the night.

Carlos Negrete '12 (Mission Viejo, Calif.) swung the momentum back to the Lions with a three-pointer from the corner with 3:29 left. Don Poitras hit one of two free throws at the opposite end for a 59-58 lead, but Nate Firn '12 (Wadesboro, N.C.) answered with a jump shot to give the Lions a one point advantage.

Drew Venter '12 (Boston, Mass.) made one of two free throws to give Emerson a 61-59 lead. Cliff Celestin '13 (Braintree, Mass.) came back with a jumper to tie the game with 1:18 remaining. Firn, Moss, and Venter each connected on one of two free throws to give Emerson a 64-61 edge with 10 ticks left. Nick Bean '11 (East Longmeadow, Mass.) hit nothing but air with a desperation three at the buzzer.

Emerson built its first half lead by shooting 48% from the field and canning six of 12 three point attempts. Rivier was only one of eight from behind the arc and could manage only six field goals in 22 attempts.

The roles reversed in period two as the Raiders shot a blistering 55% from the field but could not manage to hit a three in nine attempts. Emerson was held to 29% shooting but managed three trifectas.

Brett Smyth '12 (Chico, Calif.) led three Lions in double figures with a dozen points. Negrete and Moss each added 11. Venter had 11 rebounds and six assists to go along with his nine points.

The Poitras brothers were each in double figures for the Raiders with Tom dropping in 16 and Don adding 13 and 10 boards.

Emerson (8-10, 5-6 GNAC) will travel to Mount Ida on Thursday evening for a 7:00pm GNAC start. Rivier (10-8, 5-6 GNAC) will also remain in the confines of the GNAC when it hosts Johnson & Wales the same date and time.