Franklin Pierce Shoots Past Saint Michael’s, 73-52
Ravens dominate the glass, use balanced attack for eighth win over last 11
COLCHESTER, Vt.. (January 24, 2006) - Franklin Pierce posted its eighth win over its last 11 contests with a commanding 73-52 victory over Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Ross Sports Center tonight.
Franklin Pierce turned in a tremendous defensive effort, holding Saint Michael's to 27 points below its scoring average at home, and dominated the glass as the Ravens enjoyed a 41-25 rebounding margin - 19-15 on its own end of the floor. The Ravens shot 48.4-percent (31-64) from the floor, including 53.6% (15-28) in the second half, while limiting the Purple Knights to 37% (17-46) from the field, including 32% (8-25) in the first half as the visitors held a nine-point (25-26) halftime advantage.
Freshman Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) led a balanced Franklin Pierce attack with 16 points to go with a game-high nine rebounds. Junior Sean Mayo (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) added 11 points and seven rebounds (four offensive), while senior Pierre Sully (Jamaica Plain, Mass./North Cambridge) finished with 11 points, six boards and two steals. Sophomore Joseph Chatman (Boston, Mass./BC High) contributed 11 points, hitting 4-of-6 from the field, while senior Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) chipped in ten points (all first half), six rebounds (three offensive) and two assists.
Junior Brandon Mullins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and senior BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) each netted a game-high 17 points for Saint Michael's as their teammates finished a combined 5-of-22 from the field. Mullins also totaled a team-best seven rebounds and four assists, while Robertson hit 7-of-11 from the field (3-3 three's) and added five boards.
Trailing by six (11-5) after a Robertson three-pointer 4:19 into the contest, Franklin Pierce reeled off a 22-7 run to stake out a nine-point lead (27-18) after junior Darryl Minnifield (Boston, Mass./Brookline) notched one of his five steals on the night and scored a lay-up with 8:00 left in the frame.
The Ravens maintained that split at the break, and then extended it to 13 points (41-28) after a Mayo basket 2:03 into the second half. The Purple Knights notched a quick 9-0 spurt to close within four (41-37) after Mullins converted a conventional three-point play with 15:18 to play.
Franklin Pierce's lead was five (52-47) after a Mullins lay-up with 10:23 to play, before the Ravens took control for good with a 19-3 run over the next eight minutes, putting the visitors up by 21 (71-50) with 2:46 to go. Chatman netted nine of his 11 points during that stretch, including a backbreaking three-pointer to put the Ravens up 17 (67-50) with 4:11 to play.
Franklin Pierce (11-7, 8-5 NE-10) returns home on Saturday when it hosts Bryant University, last year's NCAA Division II runner's-up, at 3:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (7-12, 4-10 NE-10) visits Southern New Hampshire University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.