NASHUA, N.H. – Five Rams provided double figures to anchor the Suffolk men's basketball team to an 86-77 decision over Rivier Saturday afternoon at Muldoon Gymnasium. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 86 | Rivier 77
RECORDS: Suffolk (16-6, 7-1 GNAC) | Rivier (1-22, 0-10 GNAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk put the first six points of the day on the board as Brendan Mulson knocked down a three-pointer and Thomas Duffy converted a three-point play. The Raiders climbed their way back and made it a two-point game, 9-7, before see-saw action followed. 

Jim Djema ended the back-and-forth play as the senior tallied lay-up before striking from long range on the next possession to make it an 18-11 score in Suffolk's favor. Rivier broke up the run, but not for long as Alex Jacovides came off the bench hot, knocking down a triple, to push the Rams' edge to 21-13 at the midway point of the first half. 

The Rams' reserve traded treys with Raiders buckets to keep the blue-and-gold ahead. The hoop-for-hoop action did not allow Suffolk to build a comfortable cushion, however, as Rivier stayed within six until Duffy jump started a 9-1 spurt that stretched the visitors' advantage to 43-27 with 45 seconds to play before the break. 

The 16-point deficit held true at the half as Michael Hagopian answered Jack McCracthy's jumper with a long ball with just two seconds on the clock to send Suffolk into the locker room up 46-30. 

Suffolk looked to lengthen its lead out of half time and did so, going up by as many as 19, twice. The Raiders made multiple comebacks on their Senior Day and cut things down to six points, 70-64, with 6:42 left on the clock.   

Jacovides sharp shooting played a key role down the stretch as the sophomore's fifth three of the day regained a 10-point advantage, 80-70, for the Rams three minutes later. 

Composure played a factor down the stretch as Suffolk hit its free throws and made lay-ups to keep the Raiders' comeback at bay and hold on for the 86-77 conference victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jacovides led Suffolk's scorers with a 17-point effort. He went 6-for-14 from the floor including a 5-for-11 showing from three-point range off the bench. He added four caroms, two blocks and two steals as well.
• Duffy put together a 16-point, seven-carom, four-assist, two-steal day.
• Jim Djema provided 14 points behind a 5-for-8 day from the field and 2-for-4 performance from three-point range. He added seven caroms, three dimes and one takeaway.
• DiPrizio and Mulson rounded out the Rams in double figures with 13 points and 12 points, respectively. The former went 5-for-7 from the field, while the latter shot 3-for-4 from downtown.
• As a team, Suffolk shot 43.8 percent (28-64) on the afternoon, 41.9 percent (13-31) from beyond-the-arc and 81.0 percent (17-21) at the line.
• Suffolk outrebounded Rivier, 41-36. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 24-14 all-time versus Rivier.
• The Rams defeated the Raiders for the fourth straight game.
• Suffolk is 5-1 against Rivier in the Jeff Juron guidance.
• The 16 wins are the most for the blue-and-gold since ratting off 17 (17-11) in 2001-02.
• Suffolk ran its win streak to five.
• Jacovides had a personal-best two blocks.
• Connor Byrne matched a career-high six caroms and two helpers. 

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk is back in the friendly confines of Regan Gymnasium Tuesday, Feb. 12 when it welcomes Lasell to the Michael E. & Larry S. Smith Court. The 7 p.m. battle between the Rams and Lasers