GNAC Semifinals With 103-69 Win Against Rivier
Release at will
February 24, 2004
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Rohan Russell (Providence, R.I.) set a new Johnson & Wales single-game record with 50 points in the Wildcats impressive 103-69 victory against Rivier in the Quarterfinals of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament at the Harborside Recreation and Athletic Center on Tuesday afternoon. The 50 points eclipsed the previous JWU record of 47, scored by Ed Rezendes against Anna Maria during the 1997 campaign. Russell also hit nine three pointers, breaking his own school record of eight set against Norwich last season.
Sophomore Brian Fernandes (Fall River, Mass.) was the only other Johnson & Wales player in double figures with 12 points, three assists and two rebounds while senior Chris Anderson (Wentzville, Mo.) added seven points and a game-high nine rebounds in the win for the Wildcats. Rivier freshman John McMahon (Somerville, Mass.) scored a team-high 22 points and added three rebounds and two assists while junior Jeffrey Miller (Nashua, N.H.) added 15 points and a game-high seven rebounds in the setback.
Johnson & Wales jumped out to the early lead and took its first double-figure advantage on a three-pointer from Russell, giving the Wildcats a 15-4 lead with 13:08 left in the first half. Rivier responded, however and cut the lead to just six points when a layup from McMahon made the score 36-30 with 2:49 left in the first half. JWU closed out the first half with a 9-4 run and took the 47-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The host Wildcats continued to build on their lead and got up by 22 on a three-pointer from Russell with 12:56 left in the contest. Russell tallied his 50th point on a layup with 1:46 left in the game and Johnson & Wales cruised to the 103-69 victory.
With the win Johnson & Wales improves to 19-7 while Rivier finishes the 2003-04 campaign with 9-16 mark. JWU, the No. 1 seed for the tournament will face the winner of No. 4 Suffolk vs. No. 5 Emerson on Thursday, February 26th at the Harborside RAC at 7:00 p.m.