Gillette, Pignone helps Raiders get overtime win, 75-74
NASHUA — The Rivier men’s basketball team completed a one-point victory over Paul Smith’s College Monday night at the Muldoon Fitness Center, 75-74.
This was a tightly contested game between the two squads. Rivier got out on top quickly after the opening tip going up 10-2. However, the Bobcats would work their way back in the first half behind Kenny Smith’s 12 points.
For the Raiders, the one-two punch of Miles Gillette and Nicolas Pignone continue to dominate as they combined for 55 of the team’s points. Gillette had the game high with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Pignone was just one point behind him with 27, along with five rebounds.
Rivier would take a 36-34 lead into the half. Pignone (Stoneham, Mass.) had a huge first half for the Raiders hitting five threes to top the team with 17 points.
The second half, the Raiders got their largest lead of 12 points but saw Paul Smith work their way back into the game after the 7:21 minute run. The last half of the second would see six lead changes. Ultimately the winning basket came on a layup from Gillette after pulling down another offensive rebound. Anthony Henson and Eddie Kwaw put up solid numbers for the Bobcats in the second. Henson had a team high 14, with Kwaw scoring 12. Gillette scored 18 in the half to help lead his team to the victory.
The top performers for Paul Smith’s were Henson, who finished with 23 points and five rebounds. Kwaw added 18 points of his own, and George Browning put up 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Rivier men’s basketball will be back on the road Wednesday when they take on Emmanuel College in GNAC Play. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.


