BOSTON, MA (November 28. 2023) – The UMass men's basketball team was outworked by the Rivier Raiders from their home court at the Clark Gymnasium in Boston, MA as the Beacons had no answer for the Raiders range from long distance. Tonight's matchup was a close one that included six ties and nine lead changes, however the late push from the Raiders was enough to put them over the top of the Beacons.

Junior guard Emanuel Zayas did what he does best, leading the Beacons once again as the primary scoring option, adding 26 points and five steals on 8-23 from the field, including 60% (3-5) from beyond the arc and 7-8 from the charity stripe. Senior guard Bobby Joy found his own groove tonight, adding 23 points on an efficient 8-13 from the field, including 7-8 from the free throw line. In his return from injury, sophomore forward Dominic Shaw led the team in rebounds along with sophomore guard Carson Meczywor, each securing a team-high seven rebounds. Junior forward Ish Fofana locked down the paint for the Beacons, adding two of the team's three total blocks to go with his 16 points.

The Raiders won the tip to start the game off and sprinted out to a 14-point lead (22-8) to start off the game. The Beacons clawed their way back even with four minutes remaining in the first half off a good three-ball from Fofana. The Beacons finished out the first half leading by a point following a Zayas layup with 30 seconds remaining in the first half. Beacons led 33-32 following an efficient shooting half as a team. The Beacons shot 40% from the field, and beyond the arc, going 12-30 from up close, and 2-5 from distance. The Raiders were locked up following their hot start, only shooting 10-37 from the field, and 7-23 from distance.

The second half was a tale of two stories. Despite the Beacons shooting 15 free throws nearly perfectly, knocking down 14 of them while improving their shooting from the first half, shooting 14-32 from the field, the Raiders' shooters were laser-focused and locked in. The Raiders had three players connect from three-point range four or more times. Every Raider with more than four three-pointers shot above 50% from distance with two of the three hitting five from downtown. The Raiders' second-half push was eventually brought to within three with six minutes left, but this is when the Raiders started to radiate heat, lighting it up from the field.
The Raiders were able to keep their gap over the Beacons to hand the Beacons the loss from the Clark Gymnasium.

The Beacons look to bounce back and find their footing against the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors from Willimantic, CT this Saturday at 3:00 pm. Live stats and video coverage will be available at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).