Story Courtesy of Trinity College Sports Information

Hartford, Conn. – The Rivier College Raiders sank three-pointers on their final three field goals of the game, including the go-ahead bomb by sophomore forward Tom Poitras (Bow, N.H.) in the final minute, to steal a 72-66 victory from the winless Elmira College Soaring Eagles in the consolation game of the Trinity College Men's Basketball Invitational this afternoon at Oosting Gymnasium. The Raiders improve to 2-7 with their first win in five games, while the Soaring Eagles fall to 0-10.

Poitras gave Rivier its first lead since the opening minutes of the game, 68-66, with 32 seconds left after junior guard Brian Troy (Keene, N.H.) had knocked the ball loose from Elmira sophomore guard Josh Keys (Bel Air, Md.) to give the Raiders possession. Elmira sophomore forward Chris Cassidy (Colts Neck, N.J.) turned the ball over the ensuing Soaring Eagle possession, and Raider sophomore guard Jake Nelson (Nashua, N.H.) drained four straight free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory. Trailing, 63-59 with 2:40 left to play, Raider junior guard Cliff Celestin (Braintree, Mass.) and Keys traded three-pointers, and Celestin added another long ball in a 58-second span to make the score, 66-65 in Elmira's favor entering the final minute. Elmira had opened the game with 10-3 run and led by 11 points at 46-35 early in the second half.

Nelson led Rivier with 17 points, including 15 after the break, to go with four rebounds, while Poitras totaled 16 points and seven boards, and Celestin finished with 15 points. Raider junior forward Mike Polley (Nashua, N.H.) led all rebounders with 13 and added eight points and a pair of blocked shots. Keys tallied a game-high 18 points, 13 in the first half, with six assists and three steals, while Cassidy had 15 points and 10 boards. Poitras and Cassidy were both named to the all-tournament team.