Raiders roll with 3-point shooting

Raiders roll with 3-point shooting

ST. LOUIS — Aidan Saunders' jumper not 6 minutes into the game put the Raiders ahead by 10, and they were never threatened after that. The Three Rivers men's basketball team extended its lead in the second half and beat Southwestern (Ill.) Community College 106-90 on Sunday. It was the second game in as many days and third game this season where the Raiders scored more than 100 points. In Saturday's 117-109 barnburner against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Three Rivers was 42 for 78 shooting, both season highs in makes and attempts for a 53.8 shooting percentage. Against SWIC, Three Rivers made one fewer shot and took 10 fewer attempts for a season best 60.3 shooting percentage, five percent better than their previous best against Lang Prep. The Raiders were also 11 for 20 (55 percent) on 3-point shooting, a season high for 3s in a game, and 13 for 16 at the free-throw line. Three Rivers led wire to wire and opened with a 9-3 run and once it took a double-digit lead, led by at least six the rest of the game. The Raider lead danced around the 10-point margin for much of the first half and the start of the second. The Raiders were ahead by 12 with 13 minutes left in the game when it broke out a second time with a 23-6 burst over 6 minutes to take a 28-point lead, their biggest of the game.

Corey Bowen kicked the run off with a layup and a jumper. Saunders followed with a 3 and Chris Stocks made a layup to put Three Rivers ahead by 19. After a SWIC bucket, Saunders sank back-to-back jumpers to put Three Rivers ahead by 21 just before the 10-minute mark. Stocks added another jumper, then Porter made a jumper and a 3 and Saunders finished the run with one last jumper at the 7-minute mark. Saunders came off the bench to lead Three Rivers with 29 points on 11 for 18 shooting. It was the fourth time this season that Saunders, who leads the Raiders with 17.8 points per game, shot better than 50 percent from the field. Saunders has consistently played 25-30 minutes per game this season but has been in and out of the starting lineup. He has started half of the Raiders' 10 games this season and not more than three in a row. Three Rivers had three starters in double figures and nine of their 10 players scored. Lucas was 4 for 7 on 3-pointers and 6 for 10 overall for 18 points. Fellow Poplar Bluff alum Stocks added 16 points on 7 for 12 shooting and Porter got 15 points on 5 for 6 shooting. Ludy Kayouloud and Keiondre Jefferson led Three Rivers with seven rebounds each. Chucky Wilson had seven assists. The Raiders have now won seven straight after opening the season 1-2.

 

Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic