Scott's fourth straight double-double leads Ravens to NE-10 victory

RINDGE, N.H. (January 8, 2002) - Franklin Pierce outscored Saint Michael's College 21-12 over the final 7:39 of the game to break open a two-point game and win going away, 78-67, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse tonight.

The win is the first for Franklin Pierce against Saint Michael's in five meetings in the all-time series. Senior forwardKevin Scott (Mississauga, Ontario/Iona Catholic) led the way with his fourth-straight double-double (sixth of the season) as he totaled 23 points, on nine-of-15 shooting from the field, 11 rebounds (four offensive) and two blocks.

Saint Michael's led just twice, both times in the first half, the last time coming with a 21-20 advantage with 5:28 to play in the opening stanza. Franklin Pierce used a 12-4 run to take a seven point lead with 1:49 to play, but the Purple Knights closed the gap to one-point (32-31), closing the half with a 6-0 run at the hands of senior Anthony Scott (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) who drained two three-pointers.

The game was nip-and-tuck over the first five minutes of the second half before Franklin Pierce gained a nine-point cushion (50-41) at the 12:40 mark with a 12-3 run to break a 38-38 tie. Sophomore Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) and junior V.J. Kwity (Torrance, Calif./West) book-ended the run with three-pointers.

Trailing 57-48 with 8:35 to play, Saint Michael's made one last run with a 7-0 run, capped by a jumper by sophomore Ben Smith, over the next minute of play.

The Ravens, however, were able to push the lead back to eight points (68-60) with 2:59 on the clock as Rodgerson and junior Tom Waterman (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) cashed in from long-distance. Franklin Pierce sealed the win by canning three of its final four shots from the field and draining its final four free throw attempts.

Senior Alfonso Payne (Boston, Mass./Boston Latin Academy) contributed 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half, in 18 minutes of action. Rodgerson added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, while senior Zvonko Ilic (Niz, Yugoslavia/K.K. Student) grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds (four offensive) and added three blocks.

Franklin Pierce was aided by a 50.9-percent (29-57) shooting effort from the field, including 56.7% (17-30) in the decisive second half. Saint Michael's was hampered by a 36.9% (24-65) shooting effort, including 21.1% (4-19) from three-point distance.

Scott led four Purple Knights in double-figures with 16 points, while senior Tunde Adekola totaled 15 points, seven rebounds, seven steals and two assists. Sophomore Delbert Randall added 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks, while Smith chipped in ten points and six boards.

Franklin Pierce (7-6, 4-5 NE-10) begins a four-game Conference road trip on Saturday at Southern Connecticut State University at 3:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (7-4, 4-4 NE-10) returns home to host Southern New Hampshire University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.