Men’s Basketball Outlasts Chargers

NEW LONDON, NH: The Rivier men's basketball team took down the Chargers of Colby-Sawyer this evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action.  

THE BASICS:

- Date: 1/18/2022

- Score: Rivier 71, Colby-Sawyer 65

- Records: Colby-Sawyer (6-8, 2-5 GNAC), Rivier (6-8, 2-5 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  There were very few advantages for either team this evening. Both shot around 41-42% from the field, 31% from behind the three-point line, and both had over 30 rebounds (C-S 32, Riv 39), with Riv having a slight advantage. They also went back and forth with having the lead six times, with the Raiders having a 15-point lead as a high and Colby-Sawyer with 10 points.  

- The First half was again Miles Gillette (Washington, DC) leading the team to a one-point advantage going into the half. He netted 11 points with three rebounds. Kevin Cummings paced him with 10 points of his own for Colby-Sawyer.

- The second half would see the Raiders lead for 14:49 before the Chargers erased a nine-point deficit to tie the game up at 65 all. Colby-Sawyer would have a chance to go up with free throws but was unsuccessful. Rivier, however, made the most of their opportunities at the line. Nikolas Pignone (Stoneham, MA) would put his squad up by two after sinking both from the charity stripe. Then, he would add to their lead with four more free throws giving him six points on those alone in the last 21 seconds of the game.

- Joseph Buford (Charleston, SC) and Pignone would top all scorers in the second half. Buford finished with 13 in the second and a game high 19 points along with seven rebounds. Pignone had the high for the second half with 15, and he finished the game with 18 points. Gillette would finish with 16 points and seven rebounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Shooting %: Colby-Sawyer 42.1%, Rivier 41%

-  Assists: Rivier 7, Colby-Sawyer 7

-  Steals: Rivier 5, Colby-Sawyer 4

UP NEXT:

- Rivier men's basketball will be back in actions Saturday against the University of Saint Joseph's Blue Jays. Tipoff is set for 3:00 pm.  

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