Men's Basketball upends Anna Maria, 81-69

(Paxton, Mass.) The Rivier University Men's Basketball team received double-digit efforts from seniors Nick Walch (Dedham, MA) and Tom Poitras (Bow, NH) as they defeated Anna Maria College 81-69 for their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference win of the season. The win snapped the Amcats 17 game unbeaten streak with the GNAC dating back to last season.

Rivier returns to the .500 mark with the win as they are now 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the GNAC. Anna Maria meanwhile falls to 2-5 and 1-1 GNAC.

Walch led the attack for Rivier with 27 points and 13 rebounds and Poitras collected 11 boards in his 23 point night for the Raiders. This was the sixth double-double for Walch this season in the first eight games.

Junior Jake Nelson (Nashua, NH) was the only other Raider to notch double-digit points with 14.

Anna Maria was paced by senior Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, FL) who netted 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the floor. Junior Hugh Daye (Worcester, Mass.) was productive with 15 point and two assists. Senor Quantez Franklin's (West Yarmouth, Mass.) stat line read 7 points, 8 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.

Rivier will enjoy a few weeks off before traveling to Staten Island, New York for the Tournament of Heroes hosted by the College of Staten Island. The Raiders will draw the hosts in the opening round set for 7:30pm on December 29th.