PAXTON, MA - Bobby Perette (Marshfield, MA) and Mike Rapoza (Charlton, MA) each put in 26-point performances as the Anna Maria men's basketball team (5-11, 2-1 GNAC) topped the Rivier University Raiders (3-12, 0-2 GNAC), 92-64 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at the Fuller Center Wednesday evening. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Anna Maria and Rivier exchanged baskets in the first five minutes of the half as no school saw a lead larger than three (12-9, AMCATS-15:30). Rivier cut the lead down to one (12-11) after Pharaoh Davis (Plainville, MA) hit a layup but the AMCATS utilized a 10-4 run (22-15) before the Raiders called a timeout. In that run, Perette, and Rapoza each had four points and Ralph Grasso, Jr. (Marlborough, MA) had two points off a nice pass from Kennedy Minix-Rogers (Smyrna, GA) who forced a Rivier turnover. 
• Rivier came out of the timeout firing as they rattled off five quick points to pull within two (22-20) courtesy of two free throws from Kevin Redler (Ellington, CT) and a three-pointer by Nikolas Pignone (Stoneham, MA). However, that was the closest Anna Maria would let Rivier get in the half as the squad responded with a massive 17-8 run to increase their lead to 11 (39-28). Rapoza and Perette again paced the run led by their Rapoza's six and Perrette's five points. Other AMCATS student-athletes that scored on the run included: Sean Etienne (Lawrence, MA) and Wallace Reed (Lynn, MA) who each had four and two points respectively. 
• The squad put things out of reach as they generated an 11-2 run six minutes through the second (14:00) as they notched their first 20-point lead of the contest (70-50). After Redler made a layup, Anna Maria went on their run as Rapoza converted an and-one opportunity followed up by a Perette three and jumper. Etienne capped off the run with a three-pointer of his own to give the AMCATS their 20-point advantage. 
• In the last five minutes of the game (5:24), the 'CATS finished on a 14-4 run to seal it for the 92-64 triumph. Joesph Holmes (Shirley, MA) four points led the three other AMCATS who scored in the spurt (Jakai Alexandre (Fitchburg, MA)-three, Rapoza-three, and Hayden Braga (Foster, RI)-two).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Perette and Rapoza led Anna Maria with 26 points each. 
• Rapoza notched his 15th double-double when he grabbed 18 rebounds. His 15th double-double is tied for the most across all divisions in the NCAA. 
• Minix-Rogers had a team-high six assists on the evening. Minix-Rogers has had five or more assists in three out of his last four games. 
• Anna Maria shot 59.4 percent from the field which marks a season-high for the team. From three-point range, the AMCATS shot 40 percent. 
• Issaiah Chappell (Sunapee, NH) led the Raiders with 15 points. 
• Rivier shot 40.7 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria continues GNAC play when they travel to Regis College on Saturday, January 25 at 12 PM. Rivier remains on the road heading to St. Joesph's (CT) on Saturday, January 25 at 3:30 PM. 

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