Golden Knights use balanced attack for third-straight win

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 26, 2008) – The College of Saint Rose used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium this afternoon.

Four Saint Rose players reached double-figures, led by seniors Steve Dagostino (Schenectady, N.Y./Guilderland) and Shanty Robinson (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) with 17 points each. Dagostino also added four rebounds and two steals, while Robinson made 7-of-10 shots from the field and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore Malcolm Williams (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady) collected 14 points, three rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocked shots off the bench. Junior Evan Lane (Sharon Springs, N.Y./Sharon Springs) chipped in ten points.

Freshman Steve Ramos (Lynn, Mass./Hebron Academy) led Franklin Pierce as he matched a season-high with 14 points, hitting 4-of-6 shots from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range, while converting all three free-throw attempts to go with two assists in 12 minutes off the bench. Freshman Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) added 13 points and three assists, while junior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) posted 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Saint Rose finished shooting 55-percent (33-for-60) from the field after hitting 58.1% (18-31) in the first half to take a 45-23 lead at the break. The Golden Knights made 7-of-16 (43.8%) three-pointers, including 4-of-9 (44.4%) in the first half. Franklin Pierce shot 39.6-percent (21-53) from the floor on the day, including just 8-of-22 (36.4%) in the first half. The Golden Knights out-scored the Ravens 24-11 in points off turnovers.

Saint Rose never trailed in the contest, opening leads of 9-2 (3:40 in), 14-5 (6:29) and 25-8 (midway). The Ravens would close within 11 (25-14) after a Dozier three with 8:06 left in the half, but the Golden Knights would reel off an 11-0 run to push their lead over 20 points. The advantage would grow to as much as 27 late in the frame, before settling for a 22-point edge (45-23) at the break. Franklin Pierce wouldn’t get within 16 the rest of the way.

Franklin Pierce (6-13, 2-13 NE-10) concludes its three-game road trip against Pace University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The next home game is Tuesday, February 5, when they host Bryant University at 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose (14-5, 11-3 NE-10) travels to Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.