Salem St. Snaps Streak for Men’s Basketball, 88-81

NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier men's basketball team saw its four-game winning streak come to a halt with an 88-81 loss to Salem St. in non-conference play on Thursday night at Muldoon Gymnasium. 

The Raiders fell to 5-2 with the setback while the Vikings improved to 4-3. 

Rivier trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, as both Liam Byrne and Michael Makiej of the Vikings recorded nine points in the opening half, followed by Nichols Martinez with eight. Devin Owens of Rivier scored 16 points on 5-8 (62.5%) shooting. 

The Raiders chipped away at the deficit over the final 20 minutes of regulation, cutting the Vikings' lead to one with 5:09 remaining on an Odarius Cade jumper off a turnover. Down the stretch, Salem St. would hit its free throws to secure its fourth victory of the season to jump above .500. 

Five Vikings finished with double-digit point totals as the team shot 54.3% from the field. Makiej (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Byrnes (19 points, 10 rebounds) each registered double-doubles in the triumph. 

Owens led all scorers with 29 points, as the Raider also stuffed the stat sheet with four rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals. 

Salem St. narrowly won the boards battle, 37-34. 

Rivier opens Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday, Dec. 2 in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against Emmanuel (Mass.)