Franklin Pierce Tames Assumption, 62-52
All five Raven starters in double-figures, led by Barrett's 16 points
RINDGE, N.H. (January 23, 2007) - All five starters reached double-figures as Franklin Pierce posted a 62-52 victory over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight.
Franklin Pierce shot 43.5-percent (20-of-46) from the field, while limiting Assumption to 37% (20-54) shooting. The Ravens also posted a 41-26 advantage on the glass for the contest.
Sophomore Jack Barrett (Reading, Mass./Andover) led Franklin Pierce, as all five starters collected double-figure scoring nights, with 16 points (one shy of his career-high) hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field to go with a 6-8 effort at the free-throw line for the night. He also dished four assists and grabbed three rebounds.
Senior Darryl Minnifield (Boston, Mass./Brookline) added 12 points, aided by 7-10 shooting from the line, a game-high nine rebounds and three assists, while classmate Nazim Senaldi (Istanbul, Turkey) and sophomore Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) each totaled 12 points and seven boards. Senior Sean Mayo (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) chipped in ten points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and two blocked shots.
Freshman Courtland Bluford (Ft. Washington, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) and senior Greg Twomey (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) each netted ten points for Assumption, while Bluford added three rebounds and Twomey collected three steals. Sophomore Patrick Shea (Salem, Mass./Salem) chipped in nine points, while junior Corey Diethorn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Sewickley Academy) grabbed a team-best five rebounds.
Franklin Pierce jumped out to a quick nine point lead (13-4) after a Munch layup 4:49 into the contest. Assumption drew within a point (22-21) after a Bluford layup, but the Ravens pushed their lead back up to five (28-23) at the break.
Franklin Pierce opened the second half with an 11-3 run to extend its advantage into double-figures (39-26) after two Mayo free-throws 3:20 into the stanza. The Ravens extended their lead to 17 (47-30) with a Minnifield three-pointer with 12:02 to play.
Assumption scored ten-straight points to pull within seven (47-40) after a Twomey layup with 6:43 to play. Franklin Pierce's lead was still seven (51-44) with 5:05 to go when a 5-0 spurt, with all the points coming at the line, put the Ravens back up 12 (56-44) with 3:42 left and the hosts were never truly threatened the rest of the way. Franklin Pierce converted six of seven free-throws over the final 1:44 to ice the victory.
Franklin Pierce (10-9, 8-7 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts the College of Saint Rose at 3:30 p.m. Assumption (8-11, 6-8 NE-10) visits UMass Lowell on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.