Anna Maria Suffers Setback to Rivier, 81-69

Paxton, Mass. – Despite a team-high 23 points from senior forward Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, Fla), the Anna Maria College men's basketball team fell to Rivier University, 81-69 to snap a 17-game Great Northeast Athletic Conference unbeaten streak on Monday evening at Fuller Activities Center.

A pair of Raiders posted double-doubles in the win. Senior Nick Walch scored 27 points and 13 grabbed rebounds to lead Rivier (4-4, 1-2 GNAC) while senior Tom Poitras added 23 points and 11 boards.

Barillo's 23 came off of 8-for-11 shooting from the floor including four from behind the three point arc, he also dished out 5 helpers and grabbed two caroms. Junior Hugh Daye (Worcester, Mass.) was productive with 15 point and two assists. Senor Quantez Franklin's (West Yarmouth, Mass.) stat line read 7 points, 8 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.

Just over four minutes into the game, Anna Maria (2-5, 1-1 GNAC) was leading 9-6 on the strength of five early points from Barillo. Walch converted a three-point play for the Raiders to notch the game a nine with 15:11 to play.  Rivier would go on to outscore AMC, 10-3 over the next five minutes to push ahead 19-15 at the 11:50 mark.

A trey from junior Corey Pryor (Whitinsville, Mass.) with six minutes to go in the stanza brought Anna Maria within one, 28-27. The teams would trade baskets and the lead would remain one, 32-31 with 3:18 showing on the scoreboard. However, the Raiders would outscore Anna Maria 13-3 to close out period and they led 45-34 at the break.

Rivier was able to extend its double-figure margin in the second half, bulging to 17 points midway through the period. A jumper by Michael Gorman (Methuen, Mass.) followed by a layup in the paint by Franklin cut the gap to 9 at 72-64 with 3:37 to play but the Raiders would go on to stretch the their lead and hold on for the win.

The AMCATS will round out the first half of the season on the road on Thursday when the visit Bridgewater State for a 7 p.m. non-conference game.