Men's Basketball Defeats Raiders In 2025-26 Season Opener

Jackson leads the way for the Falcons with a team best 21 points

Nashua, NH – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball earned an 80-67 victory over the Raiders of Rivier University this evening in non-conference action from the Muldoon Center to open their 2025-26 campaign.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 80, Rivier 67

Records: Fitchburg State (1-0, 0-0 MASCAC) | Rivier (0-1, 0-0 GNAC)

How It Happened

First Half

Fitchburg State opened the contest on 7-0 run as junior Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, TX) hit a pair of bucket and classmate Takoma Rosario (Vista, CA) added a jumper before River cut the deficit to 9-7 on three pointers from senior Robinson Baguidy (Goffstown, NH) and classmate Theo Briscoe IV (Oxnard, CA).

The Raiders took lead (16-15) on a pair of free-throw and a three ball by senior Jamari Williams (Miami Gardens, FL) before the Falcons battled back to take a 26-23 advantage as junior Joshua Jean Charles (Dorchester, MA) connected on a pair of jumpers.

The hosts regained the lead (29-28) with Briscoe knocking down a three-pointer and a jumper from senior Izaiah Shaw-Glen (Brooklyn, NY), but the Green and Gold took a 37-29 edge into the break as senior Nicolas Von Zboray (Sacramento, CA) and junior Xavier Smaltz (Allentown (PA) hit three balls.

Second Half

Following the intermission, Rivier trimmed the lead to 45-37 as Shaw-Glen and sophomore Steph Barnes (Waltham, MA) hit layups before Fitchburg State  pushed the lead to 53-41 on a layup from junior Braeden White (Spencer, MA).

The Falcons pushed the advantage to 57-44 with Jean Charles and Jackson netting buckets, but the Raiders reduced the deficit to 59-55 when freshman Daylen Dalcour (Houston, TX) notched a layup.

The host trimmed the lead to 73-61 on a layup from Shaw-Glen, but the Green and Gold secured the victory with White converting a bucket and a free-throw, resulting in the 80-67 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Jackson led the way for the Falcons with a team-leading 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal
• Jean Charles chipped in with 20 points, six boards and one assist
• For the Raiders, Shaw-Glen finished with a game-best 22 points, six caroms, one assist, two steals and one block
• Briscoe added 11 points, two rebounds and one assist
• Fitchburg State shot 28-for-55 (50.9%) from the field and (2-of-9) 22.2% from three point range
• Rivier finished 20-of-62 (32.3%) overall and (5-for-28) 17.9% for beyond the arc
• The Falcons held a 46-30 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they host the Spartans of Vermont State Castleton in non-conference action, starting at 6:00PM.

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