Late Turnover Costly as Hawks Out-Score Ravens 8-5 in Final 87 Seconds

MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 9, 2008) – Saint Anselm College took advantage of a late Franklin Pierce University turnover and gathered a key offensive rebound in the final minute plus to claim an 84-81 victory in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium this afternoon.

Saint Anselm out-scored Franklin Pierce 8-5 in the final 90-seconds, taking advantage of a Ravens turnover and gathering a key offensive rebound while converting four-of-five free-throw attempts in the final minute to seal the victory.

Senior Chris Vetrano (Andover, Mass./Andover) led Saint Anselm with 23 points as he hit 7-of-12 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 three-pointers, and converted 5-of-7 free-throws to go with four rebounds. Freshman Thomas Baudinet (Watertown, Conn./Taft) followed closely with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field, including 3-7 from beyond the arc, to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Senior Junior Mitchell (Brooklyn, Mass./Xavarian) added 14 points on 5-8 shooting from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range, while classmate Jeff Dickson (Bedford, N.H./Manchester West) chipped in eight points, seven rebounds, 11 assists and three steals.

Redshirt freshman Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) led Franklin Pierce with 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, including an impressive 7-for-9 from three-point range. Junior Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) was right behind with 22 points as he hit 9-of-18 shots from the field, including 3-7 three’s, to go with four rebounds and three assists. Junior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) added ten points, eight rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) chipped in eight points and six rebounds off the bench.

Both teams shot well in the contest, with Franklin Pierce making 49.2-percent (29-of-59) of its shots from the field, including a scorching 57.1% (12-for-21) from three-point range, while Saint Anselm made 48.3% (29-60) of its shots, including 44% (11-25) from beyond the arc. The difference came with the Hawks posting a 25-14 advantage in points off turnovers as the Ravens turned the ball over 16 times, compared to 14 for the hosts.

Munch hit a jumper that knotted the score at 76-76 with 1:27 to play. After a Baudinet jumper to put Saint Anselm back in front with 1:10 to go, Franklin Pierce turned the ball over and Vetrano was fouled while making a lay-up to put the hosts up four (80-76) with 45-seconds left. Vetrano missed the free-throw, but Dickson pulled down the offensive rebound to maintain possession and forcing the Ravens to foul. Vetrano made his next four attempts, wrapped around a jumper by Franklin Pierce freshman Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) to seal the win.

Saint Anselm outscored Franklin Pierce 8-3 over the final 2:17 of the first half to take a nine-point lead (47-38) into halftime. A 13-2 Franklin Pierce run gave the Ravens their first lead of the second half (58-57) after a Manchester three with 11:14 to go. Another Manchester three pushed the Ravens lead to four points, but Saint Anselm regained the lead (63-61) after two Vetrano free-throws with 7:23 to play.

Saint Anselm worked a four-point cushion (75-71) after a Vetrano three with 2:40 left, but the Ravens scored the next four of the next five points, sparked by a Dozier three to pull even one last time with 1:27 on the clock.

Franklin Pierce (7-15, 3-14 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts the University of Massachusetts Lowell at 7:30 p.m. There will be no women’s game that night. Saint Anselm (10-11, 8-9 NE-10) hosts The College of Saint Rose on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.