Dozier’s season-high 24 points lifts Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (January 19, 2008) – Franklin Pierce University edged Stonehill College, 63-62, in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Freshman guard Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) set a season-high for the second-straight game, following up a 19-point effort at Le Moyne College on Wednesday, with 24 points this afternoon on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, including 4-for-9 from three-point range, and converting both free-throw attempts. He also added four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Junior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas Lithuania/The Winchendon School) added nine points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Ravens, while freshman Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) chipped in nine points, four rebounds and two assists. Junior Adam Dizuzzio (Fitchburg, Mass./St. Bernard’s), a transfer from Fitchburg State College, made his first start for the Ravens and collected season-highs of eight points and seven rebounds.

Junior Matt Hall (Springfield, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high ten rebounds for Stonehill. Sophomore A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Township) added 13 points, aided by 7-for-7 shooting at the free-throw line, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals, while classmate Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) finished with 13 points and four boards.

Franklin Pierce shot 45.2-percent (14-for-31) from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point rage, in the second half after hitting just 31.4% (11-35) of its shots, including 4-12 (33.3%) from three-point land, in the opening frame. The Ravens dominated the glass, out-rebounding Stonehill 43-33, grabbing 17 offensive boards that resulted in a 20-15 advantage in second chance points.

Franklin Pierce scored the first eight points of the contest and never trailed in the first half. Dozier drained a pair of three’s during the opening run. Stonehill forced the first tie of the game with two Smith free-throws with 1:51 left in the frame and neither team scored the rest of the half as they went into the locker rooms knotted at 27-27.

Hall hit a three to open the second half and give Stonehill its first lead. The Skyhawks spread the margin to eight (52-44) after a Vince Rosario (Perth Amboy, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) three with 8:28 to play.

Franklin Pierce wouldn’t go away, scoring 12-straight points to take a four-point lead (56-52) after a Manchester three with 4:38 left. Hall drained a three for Stonehill to tie the score at 60-60 with 2:13 on the clock.

Dozier answered with a lay-up at the other end to put the hosts back in front with 1:49 left, but Rudowitz was fouled and hit both free-throws to tie the score (62-62) for a fourth time with 54-second to go.

Manchester grabbed a key offensive board after Dozier missed a three with the shot clock winding down and was fouled with 25-seconds on the clock. Manchester made just one of two, but Hall had a pass stolen by Franklin Pierce freshman Mike Barrow (Mattapan, Mass./Hebron Academy) with ten seconds left.

Franklin Pierce missed the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds to go, giving Stonehill one last chance to clinch the win, but the Skyhawks couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer – ending the Ravens season-long five game losing streak.

Franklin Pierce (6-11, 2-10 NE-10) returns to action on Tuesday, when it visits Assumption College at 7:30 p.m. The Ravens are not home again until Tuesday, February 5, when they host Bryant University at 7:30 p.m. Stonehill (12-7, 8-4 NE-10) hosts Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.