Rapoza Goes Off With 38 Points to Best JWU, 77-74

- PAXTON, MASS: The Anna Maria Men's Basketball team defeated conference opponent Johnson & Wales this afternoon in a thriller to improve to 5-3 in GNAC play.

 THE BASICS:

- Date: 2/8/2020

- Score: Anna Maria 77, JWU 74

- Records: JWU (10-12, 2-6 GNAC), Anna Maria (8-13, 5-3 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  Bobby Perette (Marshfield, MA) started the game off with a 3-point basket before the Wildcats took control of the opening minutes. They gained and pushed their lead to 21-11 before only scoring two points in the next 12 minutes.

- During JWU's struggle to score the AMCATS ate away at their deficit and regained the lead with 10:52 left in the half. A slew of old fashioned 3-point plays from Mike Rapoza (Charlton, MA) built the lead to a peak of 11 points. Also during that run Ralph Grasso (Marlborough, MA) sank three three-point shots to help the AMCATS to extend their lead. Anna Maria's lead was only 10 points going into the half.  

- Rapoza brought 19 points into the half along with seven rebounds and three assists. For JWU Justin Bullock had a team high of 11 at the half.

- The second half was full of excitement as the Wildcats got back into the game, tying it up at 58 all with just 10:22 left. After that, it was a basket for basket game all the way to the end. With just 1:07 left the 'CATS took the lead after being tied at 72 all with a Jaki Alexandre (Fitchburg, MA) layup and a Kennedy Minix-Rogers (Smyrna, GA) free throw to go up 75-72. JWU trimmed the lead to just one on another Justin Bullock Lay in but that was as far as they would get with Anna Maria's free throw shooting sealing it.

- Mike Matched his first half stats with another 19 points and nine rebounds.      

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Justin Bullock finished with a team high for the Wildcats after scoring 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

-  Rapoza finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists.

-  Perette finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

UP NEXT:

- Anna Maria returns to action Wednesday when they travel to Bowdoin for a 7:30 PM contest.  

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