57.1-percent shooting spurs Penmen to first win in five outings

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 12, 2007) – Southern New Hampshire University snapped a four-game losing streak with an 88-72 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at the SNHU Fieldhouse tonight.

Senior Sam Carey (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) and junior Troy Bowen (Nashua, N.H./High Point) combined for 41 points to lead Southern New Hampshire, who shot a combined 57.1-percent (28-of-49) from the field, including 9-for-15 (60%) from three-point range, on the night. Bowen led all scorers with 21 points, hitting 7-of-10 shots from the field (3-4 three’s), to go with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Carey added 20 points, on 9-of-11 shooting, and eight rebounds.

Junior Gerald Carter (Harlem, N.Y./Marist) added 13 points and three rebounds, while freshman Chase Miller (Fairfax, Va./Massanutten Military Academy) rounded out the Penmen in double figures with 11 points to go with four assists and three steals.

Freshman Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) led four Franklin Pierce players in double figures with 17 points, aided by 3-for-5 shooting from three-point range, and four assists. Junior Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) collected 16 points and three rebounds, while redshirt freshman Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) added 11 points off the bench. Junior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon (Mass.) School) chipped in ten points.

Franklin Pierce shot well from three-point range, connecting on 47.6-percent (10-of-21), but finished at just 42.4% (25-for-59) from the field overall after a hot start and converted only 12-of-22 (54.5%) of its free throws. The Ravens shot 58.3% (7-12) from long-distance in the first half, compared to 3-for-9 (33.3%) in the second.

After trailing by as much as 11 late in the first half, Franklin Pierce drew within five at the break (42-37) after a Munch lay-up capped a 10-4 run. SNHU quickly regained its double-figure lead, opening a 12-point bulge (51-39) after a thunderous dunk from freshman Cory Vejraska (Alachua, Fla./Bridgton Academy) 2:09 into the second half.

A Munch three pulled Franklin Pierce within nine (53-44) with 17:12 to play, but the Penmen posted a 7-1 run, sparked by a Bowen three-pointer, to gain a 15-point advantage (60-45) with 15:35 left. After a timeout, the Ravens reeled off five-straight points (all from Manchester) to draw within ten (60-50) with 13:35 to go. That would prove to be as close as Franklin Pierce would get with the Penmen leading by as much as 18 down the stretch.

Franklin Pierce (3-6, 1-6 NE-10) is off until December 22 & 23 when it competes at the Caldwell College Classic in New Jersey, opening against Dominican College in a non-conference clash on Saturday the 22nd at 2 p.m. The Ravens are not home again until after the New Year, when they host top-ranked Bentley College on January 8 at 7:30 p.m. Southern N.H. (3-5, 2-5 NE-10) hosts Bentley on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.