AMC Falters in GNAC Opener

WESTON, MASS – The AMCATS men's basketball team opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Tuesday night against Regis College, who joined the conference for the 2017-2018 season. Though this conference matchup is new these teams have met multiple times before. Regis held a 4-0 all-time series lead going in to Tuesday with the most recent matchup way back in 2011 which the Pride won 65-64. This time around AMC wasn't able to keep the score that close as they dropped their fifth straight to their opponent and second straight this season, 82-58 to fall to 2-3 on the year and 0-1 in conference play.

For the visitors, sophomore forward Mike Rapoza (Charlton, Mass) continued his scoring and rebounding ways picking up 16 and 10 to record his fourth double-double of the season. Rapoza went five-for-nine from the floor and six-for-ten from the charity stripe in the loss. Senior forward Kenneth Graham (West Haven, Conn) scored six of his own while also grabbing six boards for Anna Maria. Freshman guard Ralph Grasso, Jr. (Marlborough, Mass) shot 50% from beyond the arch to add six for the AMCATS while sophomore guard Bobby Perette (Marshfield, Mass) grab two threes of his own off the bench.

Regis came out firing in their first GNAC contest with three players going in to double digits. Juniors forward Ademola Afonja (Staten Island, N.Y.) had a game-high 18 points with eight rebounds for the home team. Sophomore guard Dimitri Rosa (Tiverton, R.I.) finished with 14 points on four-of-six shooting from three-point land and freshman forward Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.) added 11 of his own in the win.

Things didn't look good for the AMCATS early as the Pride jumped out to a 12-1 lead in the first five minutes of play and by the time the half way point of the first half came AMC found themselves down 22-9. At the break Regis lead Anna Maria 44-25.

At the start of the second half Grasso, Jr. and Graham were able to shave the deficit down to 15 after two minutes of play. With Regis' sloppy backcourt play at the beginning of the half Conrad's crew were able to get something going with back to back fast break opportunities but the Pride were quickly able to regain their composure, control the remaining time in the second half, and walk away with the 24-point victory, 82-58, over the AMCATS.

Next up for the AMCATS will be a non-conference matchup against Bowdoin on Thursday evening at home in the Fuller Center at 7pm. The home opener will be a blackout game and the first 100 attendees that come with a canned good, which will be donated to Abby's House in Worcester, Mass, will receive a free Adidas t-shirt.

For the full box score of Tuesday's game Click Here.