SAINTS NIP RAIDERS, 63-62
Jan. 28, 2012
Nashua, N.H. - The Emmanuel Saints pulled off a narrow 63-62 victory over conference foe Rivier College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's basketball action played in the Muldoon Center on Saturday afternoon. The Saints entered halftime up two points and held a slim lead throughout the second half. Rivier sophomore Jake Nelson's (Nashua, NH) shot with 0:01 second left fell just short and Emmanuel came away with the one-point win.
The contest featured 10 lead changes with all of them coming in the first half. The Saints, which improve to 8-11 overall and 7-5 in the GNAC, got a monster game from Theo Robinson. The sophomore forward recorded his 12th double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 20 points off of 10 for 15 shooting and collecting 12 rebounds. Senior forward Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) was the only other Saint to reach double figures, as he netted 17 points. Th backcourt tandem of Michael Mailhot (Norwich, Conn.) and Brandon Jones (Winsor, Conn.) combined for 16 points and 5 assists.
Despite committing 21 turnovers on the night, the Saints shot 47.2% (25-53) from the floor and out-rebounded the Raiders, 39-27, for the game.
The loss drops the Raiders to 4-13 on the season and 2-8 in GNAC play. sophomore Tom Poitras (Bow, N.H.) recorded 20 points, while Nelson added 13 and junior Brian Troy (Westmoreland, NH) chipped in with 10 for the hosts.
These same two teams will be at it again this coming Monday night, when the Raiders travel to down to Boston to complete the home and home commitment. The game is slated to tip off at 7pm in the Jean Yawkey Center.