NASHUA, N.H. – Junior guard Remijo Wani (Portland, Maine) poured in a career-high 42 points as Saint Joseph's College (14-8, 9-0 GNAC) earned a 94-90 double-overtime win over Rivier University (10-12, 4-6 GNAC) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball action on Wednesday evening.
The Monks have now won 11 consecutive games and played in five overtime contests this season—matching the program's total number of overtime games from the previous 13 seasons combined.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In a game that featured nine lead changes and two ties, the Monks burst out with a 10-2 run—sparked by five points apiece from Wani and sophomore Silvano Ismail (Portland, Maine/Cheverus)—and controlled much of the first half to take a 37-30 lead into intermission.
Saint Joseph's stretched its advantage to a game-high 16 (57-41) when senior Wani Donato (Portland, Maine) knocked down a jumper with 13:08 remaining in regulation, but Rivier answered with a steady surge and tied the contest at 63-63 with 4:19 to play. During the Raiders' 22-6 run, the Monks went 3-for-13 from the floor and committed five turnovers.
Regulation ended in a frantic finish. Rivier grabbed a 71-67 lead with 0:21 left after Izaiah Shaw-Glen converted a second-chance bucket and hit two free throws. Wani responded by slicing to the rim for a layup at the 0:13 mark to make it 71-69, and Rivier then missed both free throws with 0:10 remaining. Donato made them pay, finishing a layup with two seconds left to pull Saint Joseph's even at 71-71 and force overtime.
The teams traded baskets in the first extra session and remained deadlocked at 81-81 after five more minutes. Saint Joseph's had a chance to win it at the horn, but Rivier came up with a block in the closing seconds to send it to double overtime.
In OT2, the Monks finally created separation. Ismail put Saint Joseph's in front early with a layup, and Wani provided the biggest swing—burying a three off a turnover to make it 86-81 with 3:37 left. Rivier cut the deficit to two, but Saint Joseph's answered with a clutch three from John Paul Frazier (York, Maine) and a dagger from Tong Maiwen (Juba, South Sudan) with 1:25 remaining to seal the 94-90 victory.
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's owned a decisive edge in shooting efficiency, connecting at a 50.7% clip (37-of-73) compared to the Raiders' 38.8% (31-of-80) effort. Rivier's pressure nearly stole the spotlight, however, as the Raiders forced 23 turnovers and converted them into 31 points.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
LEADERS – RIVIER:
- Izaiah Shaw-Glen: 37 points, 10 rebounds
- Matt Youngquist: 20 points
- Robenson Baguidy: 9 points, 9 assists
- Jamari Williams: 11 rebounds
- Daylen Dalcour: 12 points, 8 rebounds
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's is now 29-5 all-time versus Rivier University and has defeated the Raiders in five-consecutive meetings.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's will host Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday in a GNAC tilt starting at 3:00 PM.
