Junior guard Kinard Dozier honored prior to game for scoring 1,000 career points

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (February 17, 2010) – The Franklin Pierce University men’s basketball team fought hard in the second half, but could not pull off the comeback in dropping a 76-59 decision to Merrimack on Wednesday night in The Fieldhouse in Rindge. The Ravens dipped to 11-14 overall and 6-14 in the Northeast-10, while the Warriors improved to 16-7 and 14-6 in league play.

Junior guard Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass.) was honored prior to the game for scoring over 1,000 career points on Saturday at Saint Anselm. Head coach David Chadbourne presented him with a game ball as the fans in attendance applauded Dozier for his career milestone. Dozier then went out and played a solid game, registering 12 points and nine rebounds. He also had two assists and a steal.

Senior forward Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had a team-high 18 points, while also ripping down eight boards. Freshman guard Eric Jean-Guillaume (Stamford, Conn.) was Franklin Pierce’s other double-digit scorer with 10 points. He also handed out five assists.

Four Warriors scored in double-figures, including Darren Duncan (25 points), Roland Davis (18 points), Aaron Strothers (11 points) and Darin Mency (11 points). Mency notched a double-double with 15 rebounds.

Merrimack scored the game’s first seven points in racing out to a commanding 43-30 lead at halftime.

However, the Ravens responded in the second half and went on a 13-0 run over the first four minutes to knot the game at 43. Junior guard Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine) and senior backcourt-mate Marcus Wellman (Monroe, Conn.) each knocked down a three-pointer to spark the run. Ray added back-to-back layups and Wellman capped the surge with another deep trey.

Merrimack, though, had an answer and responded with a 16-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 59-45 lead. Duncan started and ended the run with a three-ball.

The Ravens tried to go on one more run to get back in the game and were able to pull within five at 60-55 with 5:33 left in the contest. Sophomore forward Adedamola Abu (Mattapan, Mass.) and Jean-Guillaume each made a pair of free throws to pull the Ravens close.

However, Merrimack scored the next eight points to open up a 68-55 lead and would never look back in earning the win.

Franklin Pierce returns to action on Saturday when it travels to face Bentley at 2 p.m. in the Dana Center in Waltham, Mass. Fans who cannot attend the game can follow it live online via audio, video and/or live stats through the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)