Nathan Firn Leads A Potent Lion Offense as Men's Basketball Tops Rivier

NASHUA, NH – Nathan Firn lit it up for 16 points Tuesday night to keep the Emerson Men's Basketball Team in it to win it as the Lions shot 50% on the game and 82% from the free throw line to take a nailbiter away from GNAC rival, Rivier 69-64. The win places Emerson at 6-18 overall and 6-12 in the conference while Rivier drops to 4-18 overall and 2-14 in the GNAC.

The first half proved to be an evenly fought battle as the Lions shot 52% overall in the half while going 6-11 from beyond the arc as Alex Dempsey led the way, going 3-3 from downtown for 11 first half points. The Lions played stingy on defense as well, forcing 11 turnovers in the half with Patrick Lowndes collecting three steals.

The Raiders weren't going quietly though as Jake Nelson and Mike Colby deposited eight in the half while teammate Brian Troy put down nine to keep pace with the Lions. Rebounds may have made the difference in the half though as Rivier pounded the boards harder for 10 rebounds to Emerson's eight as they finished the first half leading the Lions 39-36.

The second half proved another close one but the Lions proved better at sharpshooting, throwing down nearly 50% from the floor and making their free throws count when they mattered, going 12-13 from the line. EC also stepped up to bring down the boards as they collected 19 to Rivier's 16 in the half.

Nathan Firn stepped up to make the difference as well with 12 points in the half as he went 4-5 in the half to lead the Lions while the closest thing for the Raiders was Tom Poitras nine points as Emerson held Rivier to only 28% from the floor to surge ahead for the five point win.

The Lions return to action this Thursday as they travel to Wheelock for a 7 p.m. tip-off.