Three Ravens score in double-figures including Kinard Dozier’s 15 points

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (January 20, 2010) – The Franklin Pierce University men’s basketball team dropped a tough 70-65 decision to Assumption on Wednesday night in The Fieldhouse in Rindge. The Ravens, who were seeking their third-straight win, dipped to 8-9 overall and 3-9 in the Northeast-10. Assumption improved to 8-9 and 5-7 in league play.

Three Ravens scored in double-figures, including junior guard Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass.), who pumped in a team-high 15 points. Dozier, who was named to the NE-10 Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, also pulled down eight rebounds before fouling out late in the contest.

Senior guard Marcus Wellman (Monroe, Conn.) came off the bench to net 12 points, while also totaling three rebounds, four assists and three steals. Senior forward Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y.) shot 5-of-6 from the floor and scored 10 points. Freshman Eric Jean-Guillaume (Stamford, Conn.) had a strong all-around game with nine points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Courtland Bluford led four Greyhounds in double-figures as he dropped in a game-high 16 points.

Franklin Pierce trailed by 11 coming out of the locker room at halftime, but responded in the second half to make it an exciting game.

The Ravens outscored the Greyhounds, 16-10, during the first seven minutes of the second half to pull within five at 48-43. Ray scored four points during the early stages of the run and Dozier aided it with a three-pointer.

Assumption got a pair of free throws from Mike Baldarelli with 8:14 to go to take a 54-49 advantage. However, Franklin Pierce rallied and scored the next six points to take a small 55-54 edge. Ray converted back-to-back layups and Dozier capped the run with a pair of foul shots.

Assumption retook the lead, but Wellman drained a triple for Franklin Pierce to give the Ravens a 58-56 lead with a little more than six minutes remaining.

The Greyhounds wouldn’t go away and hit big shots at critical times. Assumption scored seven-consecutive points, including two-straight jumpers from Ronson Quick, to go up 63-58 with 4:12 left.

Franklin Pierce could not overcome the late run. The Ravens inability to convert foul shots hurt their chances for a comeback as they shot just 8-of-25 from the free throw line.

Bluford converted two foul shots in the final seconds and Savoy Fraine added another to help seal the win for the Greyhounds.

Assumption raced out to an 8-2 lead to start the game and built that into a 38-27 lead at halftime. Bluford led all scorers with 12 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Saturday afternoon when it travels to Springfield, Mass. to face American International at 3:30 p.m. Fans wishing to follow the game can do so online via audio and/or live stats through the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)