Franklin Pierce Outlasts Men's Basketball 76-65

Franklin Pierce Outlasts Men's Basketball 76-65

THE BASICS:

- Score: Franklin Pierce 76, Assumption 65

- Records: Franklin Pierce (4-5, 2-5 NE10), Assumption (1-9, 0-7)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gym)

- The Lead: Franklin Pierce built an 11-point halftime lead and Assumption was never able to get it into single digit over the final 20 minutes of action as the Ravens came away with a 76-65 victory on Sunday afternoon in conference action.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Assumption and Franklin Pierce were tied 8-8 on a Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md. / Quince Orchard) triple at 14:20 and two minutes later Nick Pasquale (Shrewsbury, Mass. / Worcester Academy) gave them a 15-13 lead. However, eight straight by the Ravens gave them a 21-15 advantage midway through the period.

- The Hounds closed the gap to just 23-19 on a Kelly layup at 8:03, but Franklin Pierce kept Assumption off the board over the next five minutes while extending its lead to 32-19. The team's traded baskets over the last 2:30 as the Ravens led 34-23 at the break.

- Franklin Pierce extended its lead to 15 points 3:11 into the second half and then 47-30 at 14:56. Six straight from the Hounds closed the gap to 47-36 on a Branislav Vujadinovic (Belgrade, Serbia / St. Joseph) triple three minutes later, however seven straight from the Ravens bumped the lead back up to 18 with 10:6 remaining.

- Assumption managed to eventually pull back within ten on a pair of Kelly free throws with 5:33 left, but Franklin Pierce connected on its next three shots to put the game out of reach as they finished with an 11-point victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption shot 37.0 percent in the contest and was 10 of 23 from deep while Franklin Pierce connected on 49.1 percent of its shots and was 9-for-23 from beyond the arc. The Hounds forced the Ravens into 20 turnovers though they were outrebounded 40-30.

- Kelly paced the offense with a career-high 28 points, including 6-for-7 shooting from downtown, to go with seven rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers. Patrick Fleming (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. / Iona Prep) was also in double figured with 12 points, eight assists and three rebounds.

- Vujadinovic chipped in nine points and four boards while Joe Sullivan (Utica, N.Y. / Notre Dame HS / Mohawk Valley CC) added five points, five rebounds and three steals.

- Four players scored in double figures for Franklin Pierce, led by Mike McDevitt with 18 points and five rebounds, while Falu Seck contributed 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

UP NEXT:

- Assumption returns to action next Saturday when the team travels to play Nyack at 3:00 pm.

STAY CONNECTED:

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