Rodgerson three-pointer lifts Ravens past pesky Warriors

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (February 12, 2002) - Sophomore guard Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) buried a three-pointer from the left key with 27-seconds to play as Franklin Pierce rallied for an 80-77 victory over Merrimack College at the Volpe Athletic Complex tonight.

Rodgerson led Franklin Pierce with 20 points, aided by a four-of-six shooting effort from three-point land. Senior Kevin Scott (Mississauga, Ontario/Iona Catholic) had a strong game against a physical Merrimack club with 18 points, on 8-15 shooting, and nine rebounds (three offensive).

Sophomore Jimmie Hunt (Utica, N.Y./Mount Ararat (Maine)) added 15 points and four assists off the bench, while senior Alfonso Payne (Boston, Mass./Boston Latin Academy) chipped in 14 key points, including eight-straight for the Ravens during a key second-half stretch.

Merrimack sophomore Justin Leith led all scorers with 25 points (17 first half) on 10-18 shooting from the field, including 3-7 from long-range, six rebounds and three assists. Junior forward Craig Griffin added 15 points, nine boards and six assists, while sophomore Korran Rivers chipped in 12 points, hitting all three attempts from long-distance, off the bench.

Outside of a four-point lead (41-37) after a Payne three-pointer with 2:59 to play in the opening half, Merrimack led virtually all night. After holding a 45-41 halftime advantage, the Warriors lead expanded to ten points (53-43) after a Griffin jumper just 2:23 into the second half.

Trailing by nine (55-46) with 16:45 to play, Franklin Pierce chipped away at the lead as eight-straight points by Payne helped cut the Merrimack lead to five (59-54) with 15:08 to go. After a Rivers three-pointer put the Warriors back up by eight, Franklin Pierce juniorV.J. Kwity (Torrance, Calif./West) sparked the next Ravens run with five-straight points and Scott added four points to cut the lead to one (68-67) with 8:10 on the clock.

Franklin Pierce took its first lead of the half with 2:27 to play with a Scott free throw for a 75-74 advantage. After a Merrimack turnover, Hunt drained a jumper with 1:14 to play, giving FP
a three-point cushion (77-74).

Merrimack answered with a Rivers trifecta with 1:01 to play, but after Rodgerson canned his three-pointer with 27-seconds to play, Leith and Brett Godette both missed off-balance shots to tie the game as time expired.

Franklin Pierce (14-10, 11-9 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Manchester, N.H., to face Granite State Challenge rival Southern New Hampshire University at 3:30 p.m. Merrimack (4-19, 3-16 NE-10) travels to Assumption College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.