Rivier's Kevin Redler goes up for an easy two against New England College's Jamal Allen during the Pilgrims' 93-87 win Tuesday night at the Muldoon Center. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – It’s called learning how to win.

Winning isn’t something the Rivier University men’s basketball team has had the good fortune to enjoy very often over the last few seasons, but this season the Raiders won two of their first three before New England College stymied them in the last four minutes to win 93-87 Tuesday at the Muldoon Center.

But once the Raiders get the hang of this winning thing, a game like last night will probably be theirs.

“We’re making strides in playing the brand of basketball that we want,” Raiders coach Lance Bisson said. “But like anything else, those late game situations, if you’re not used to winning a certain way, then it’s really difficult to find your spot and expect to do it.”

Rivier went 1 for 8 from the floor in the final few minutes, smothered by the NEC defense.

“Late in the game they inflicted their will style wise,” Rivier coach Lance Bisson said, “and we just couldn’t initiate offense because of their pressure. … You have to tip your cap to them because they play as hard as anybody.”

This is one of the more athletic Rivier teams in the last 15 years, perhaps since the GNAC champion 2007 squad. It was led by Miles Gillette, who pumped in 25 points, including his 1,000th career tally, but found himself unable to shake that NEC defense down the stretch, during which the Raiders managed one field goal, a scoop shot by Kevin Redler, who finished with 10 points.

“I thought he had a really good game,” Bisson said. “I thought during the course of the game, he picked his spots really well.”

But he didn’t have senior point guard Pharaoh Davis to feed him the ball, the senior from Plainville, Mass., arguably the team’s best overall player, nursing a sore knee.

“We need our best player Pharaoh Davis to come back,” Bisson said. “Playing without your point guard against that style is difficult. It was sort of a trickle-down effect of not having our top ball handler and having secondary ball handlers put into positions they did not want to be or were forced to be in.

“It just came down to their style able to inflict their will late.”

For example, the ‘Grims’ Calvin Cheek had four steals, a category he was leading the country in. And with the visitors up 86-83, NEC’s Jamal Allen stuck a dagger in the Raiders’ hearts with a 3-pointer with 44.8 seconds left. To no one’s surprise, he finished with a game-high 30 points.

“Our seniors stepped up,” NEC coach Charlie Mason said. “But give a lot of credit to Rivier. They’re well-coached and played very hard. Both teams left it on the floor. It was a game of runs and we were fortunate to have the last one.”

The Raiders, who got an additional 17 points from Will Parsons, also lost their legs. They shot 40 percent from 3-point land in the first half, but in the second half were just 1 of 14 to finish at 24 percent from downtown.

“What does that tell you,” Bisson said. “I saw the same thing.”

Gillette also had 15 rebounds and three assists, while Raiders Nikolas Pignone (15 points) and Josef Buford (14) also helped out.

These games are still what Bisson wants; tough, grind it out affairs against quality opponents in order to toughen the Raiders up for Great Northeast Athletic Conference play that starts soon.

“Absolutely,” Bisson said. “There’s a reason they’ve been in their conference (NECC) championship game each of the last however many years.”

Riv trailed 50-45 at the half, but led 81-80 with 2:55 to play before the ‘Grims began to close them out thanks that 6-0 run Mason was referring to.

“I thought our guys showed a lot of fight and a lot of grit,” Bisson said. “We’re happy with the steps we’re taking, certainly. … We have pieces now. We just have to figure out how these pieces fit in.”

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