Terrell Ray hits free throw with no time left on clock at the end of first OT

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (January 26, 2010) – The Franklin Pierce University men’s basketball team pulled out a stunning 74-73 overtime win over Adelphi on Tuesday night in The Fieldhouse in Rindge. The Ravens snapped a two-game skid and improved to 9-10 overall and 4-10 in the Northeast-10. Adelphi fell to 14-7 and 7-7 in league play.

Senior forward Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was the hero on this night. He scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor and pulled down three rebounds. Ray was just 2-of-7 from the free throw line, but it was when he hit one of those two foul shots that mattered.

As time was close to expiring in the first overtime, junior guard Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass.) fired up a potential game-winning three-pointer. It clanged off the back of the rim, but Ray was there to collect the loose ball. In one quick motion he went to flip back a shot at the buzzer, but was fouled on the play. After the referees confirmed that he had been fouled prior to the horn sounding, Ray was sent to the free throw line for two foul shots that could potentially win the game.

Ray, who had left the game late in regulation due to a shoulder injury but had played every minute of the extra session, stepped to the line and calmly drained the first foul shot to close the book and seal the win for the Ravens. It didn’t take long for him to be mobbed by his teammates as the Ravens stormed the court to celebrate one of the best wins in recent memory.

The win for Franklin Pierce avenged last season’s 67-63 loss to Adelphi, which also went to overtime. In that game, the Panthers were able to limit the Ravens to just four points in the extra session. Franklin Pierce doubled that output in Tuesday’s game which helped lift them to victory.

Ray was one of five Ravens to score in double-figures. Dozier led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds. He also had four assists and three steals. Junior guard Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine) had 11 points in the first half, while John Hegarty (New Bedford, Mass.) and Eric Jean-Guillaume (Stamford, Conn.) had 10 points apiece.

The game went to the extra session after a frantic end of regulation. Franklin Pierce held a 64-55 lead with 5:01 to go following a jumper from Dozier. However, Adelphi came storming back and scored 11 of the final 13 points in regulation to knot the game at 66-66.

Junior guard Mike Barrow (Mattapan, Mass.) stepped to the foul line in relief of an injured Ray with :46 left and hit two free throws to make it 66-63. David Akinyooye made two free throws at the other end of the court to pull the Panthers within one at 66-65 with :36 to go.

Freshman guard Curtis Christian (Harlem, N.Y.) was fouled off the inbounds and went to the line for the Ravens, but could not convert either of the two foul shots. Adelphi came back down the court and Casey Cosgrove drew a foul as he went in for a layup. He made the first of two free throws, but missed the second, allowing for the Ravens to come down for the final shot. Franklin Pierce ran a great play and found Christian wide open in the right corner, but his three attempt at the buzzer just rattled in and out.

Cosgrove had 12 points during the game, while Richard Byrd led Adelphi with a game-high 21 points.

Franklin Pierce shot a solid 52 percent (27-of-52) from the field and a respectable 38 percent from behind the arc (8-of-21). Adelphi wasn’t bad shooting either as it shot 43 percent (27-of-63) from the field.

The early stages of the first half were close, but Franklin Pierce was able to pull away midway through the stanza with a 12-2 run to take a 26-15 advantage. Adelphi would claw back into it and get within 35-30 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Dozier had 12 points and eight boards in the opening 20 minutes to pace the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce has gone a respectable 5-4 since returning from its two-week holiday break back in late December. Three of the Ravens five wins have come against conference teams with winning records.

The Ravens return to action Saturday when they travel to face Le Moyne at 3 p.m. Fans wishing to follow the game can do so online through the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)