The Suffolk University Men's Basketball team topped the Rivier University Raiders, 91-84 in overtime as both teams opened their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) slates on Tuesday evening.
Freshman Frantz Pinard (Arlington, Mass.) scored eight points in the overtime period to help lift Suffolk, who overcame a nine-point deficit with four minutes remaining in regulation for their second consecutive victory on the season.Pinard finished the game with his first career double-double scoring 19 points and collecting a game-high 11 rebounds.
Senior Tom Poitras (Bow, N.H.) finished the evening leading all scorers with 29 points as the senior forward came out strong early netting 15 points in the opening 10 minutes of the contest for Rivier.
Both teams would go back and forth throughout the majority of a first half that saw eight lead changes. Poitras would finish the half with 21 points as the score at the break was at a 36-36 deadlock.
Rivier would come out strong after the intermission as a three-pointer by senior Shawn Gareau (Hardwick, Mass.) gave the Raiders a seven-point edge, 49-42 four minutes into the second half. Rivier would build their lead up to 10 points when senior Nick Walch (Dedham, Mass.) connected on a layup at the 13:41 mark. Walch would lead Rivier with 10 points in the second half.
Suffolk would rally late going on a 9-0 run over a three minute span capped off by a three-pointer by Pinard at the 1:53 mark to make it a 70-70 score. Neither team would be able to muster another point over the remainder of regulation sending the game into the extra five minute period.
Pinard would come out quick scoring on a three point play, as he knocked in a layup and then hit the ensuing free-throw on the play after drawing the foul. Rivier would answer as Walch went to the line knocking down one of two free throws before sophomore Jake Meister (Madison, N.J.) knocked down a 10-foot jumper to put the Rams back up by four points.
Both teams would go back and forth before junior Matt Powers (Westwood, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer to make it a seven-point Suffolk lead, 84-77 with 1:08 remaining in the period.
Suffolk would close out the victory with sophomore Adam Chick (Northbrook, Ill.) and junior Sam Nwadike (Houston, Tx.) both knocking down four straight free-throw attempts in the closing seconds of the game.
Nwadike finished the evening with a team-high 20 points, as five Suffolk players registered double digits in scoring totals. Chick was 4-for-6 from the field for 13 points, while Meister and Powers also chipped in with 13 points a piece.
After a strong first half, the Suffolk defense limited Poitras to just six second half points, as he also scored a pair in overtime to finish the evening with the 29.
Walch recorded a double-double of his own for the Raiders as he collected 15 points and finished with a team-high 10 boards.
Junior Jake Nelson (Nashua, N.H.) also chipped in with 13 points on the evening for Rivier who fall to a 3-3 mark on the season.
Suffolk held a tight edge in rebounds for the game at 41-36, the fifth time this season they've outrebounded their opponents.
Suffolk held a 26-12 advantage in the game in points off turnovers as they forced 18 Raiders' errors, while only turning the ball over 10 times themselves in the game.
Both teams will be back in action later this week hosting GNAC games against St. Joseph's College (Me.). Rivier will host the Monks on Saturday at 1:00pm, after Suffolk takes them on on Thursday evening at 7:30pm.