HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College men's basketball team saw four players in double figures and closed strong down the stretch to secure a hard-fought 70-67 victory over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Rivier University on Saturday afternoon. 

The Pilgrims came racing out to a 14-6 lead behind five early points from junior Aiden MacLeod (Wilmington, Mass.) and sophomore Josh Robie (Bethlehem, N.H.). The Raiders responded with a surge of their won, trimming the 'Grims lead to 16-15 with 11:51 remaining in the half. A three from Theo Briscoe IV briefly gave Rivier the advantage, but junior Michael Hills (Baton Rouge, La.) answered from beyond the arc to reclaim the lead for NEC. The teams traded baskets throughout a tightly contested first half, but the Pilgrims outscored the Raiders 11-6 over the final four and a half minutes to take a 38-33 edge into the break. 

Rivier opened the second half with back-to-back baskets to regain the lead, but NEC responded quickly as Robie and junior Mike Strazzeri (Chichester, N.H.) each buried a three to swing momentum back in favor of the Pilgrims. The Raiders countered with four points from Izaiah Shaw-Glen and five from Daylen Dalcour to move back in front. Hills stepped up once again, knocking down a jumper followed by a three to even the score at 50-50. Shortly after, sophomore Dimitri Sime (Lowell, Mass.) scored four straight points to give the 'Grims the lead with under 10 minutes remaining. Sime added another clutch three at the 5:47 mark to extend the advantage, but Rivier battled back. Dalcour scored five more points down the stretch to pull the Raiders within one point with 1:03 left. In the final moments, Briscoe IV had a look at a go-ahead three, but junior Jasen Stovall (Tampa, Fla.) secured the rebound and quickly found Strazzeri, who was fouled by Dalcour. Strazzeri sank both free throws to give the Pilgrims a 70-67 lead with 23 seconds remaining. Rivier had one last opportunity to tie as Robenson Baguidy launched a three-pointer with two seconds left, but sophomore Ryan Cuvier (Tewksbury, Mass.) delivered a crucial block. Although Steph Barnes collected the rebound, time expired, sealing the victory for the Pilgrims. 

NEC shot 48.1% from the field and 52.4% from three-point range. Hills led the way with 13 points and two assists. MacLeod added 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Robie and Sime each finished with 11 points. Sophomore Luke Montejo (Tewksbury, Mass.) contributed seven points, and a team-high nine rebounds , and five assists. Dalcour recorded a game-high 22 points and added eight rebounds, while Baguidy recorded a game-high seven assists along with 19 points and six rebounds for the visiting Raiders. 

The Pilgrims hit the road for their final conference matchup of the regular season on Tuesday, as they take on the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at the O'Connell Center in West Hartford, Connecticut. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.  

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