Ellis Cooper goes for game-high tying 16 points; Ryen Vilmont tosses in career-high 15 points while pulling down seven rebounds

COLCHESTER, Vt. (November 18, 2011) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's baskeball team got back to its early-season winning ways on Friday night with a 63-59 triumph over Goldey-Beacom on the opening day of the Saint Michael's Tournament. The Ravens improved to 3-1, while Goldey-Beacom dipped to 0-1.

Four Ravens scored in double-figures, including a team-high 16 points from sophomore forward Ellis Cooper (Northampton, Mass.). Cooper also swiped four steals, pulled down two rebounds and dished out an assist to cap an all-around solid evening.

Senior guard Nigel Van Oostrum (Sheffield, England) and freshman forward Ryen Vilmont (Philadelphia, Pa.) followed with 15 points apiece, while junior guard Eric Jean-Guillaume (Stamford, Conn.) added 13. Vilmont collected seven rebounds and three blocks to go along with his career-high point total.

Franklin Pierce overcame a sub-par shooting night (33 percent) by turning in a strong defensive effort and forcing Goldey-Beacom into 23 turnovers. The Ravens, who swiped 11 steals, were much more careful with the basketball, turning it over just 12 times. 

That defensive effort turned the game around for Franklin Pierce late in the second half as the Ravens found themselves trailing 45-42 with under nine minutes remaining. Cooper notched a three-point play on a layup and free throw to knot the score and followed at the other end of the court with a steal and feed to Jean-Guillaume, who laid in a basket to put the Ravens up by two at 47-45.

Cooper forced another steal on Goldey-Beacom's next possession and laid in a basket on the offensive end to put the Ravens up by four with 7:40 to go. Sophomore Igor Lebov (Toronto, Ont.) added a layup of his own moments later, and Cooper followed with another lay-in to cap a Franklin Pierce 11-0 run, which put the Ravens up 53-45 with 6:34 left.

The teams continued to trade baskets over the next several minutes but Goldey-Beacom could never get closer than four points the rest of the way. Jean-Guillaume hit three free throws in the final 60 seconds, while Vilmont added a pair of his own to seal the win for the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce held a 24-8 advantage in points off turnovers, while also gaining a 12-6 advantage in fast-break points. 

A.J. Picard, who tossed in a game-high tying 16 points for Goldey-Beacom, drained a pair of jumpers in the opening minutes of the game to stake his squad to a 10-5 advantage. However, the Ravens countered with a 10-0 run, highlighted by eight points from Vilmont on a pair of triples and a dunk, to take a 15-10 lead with 13:48 to go until halftime. 

The first half saw six ties and four lead changes. Jean-Guillaume gave the Ravens a 26-23 lead with 1:34 remaining after a three-pointer, but Picard converted a three-point play in the closing seconds to tie the game at 26-26 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Marcus Porter was Goldey-Beacom's other double-figure scorer as he tossed in 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. Goldey-Beacom shot 44 percent (21-of-47) from the floor for during the game. 

Franklin Pierce returns to action Saturday when the Ravens take on Concordia during the final day of action at the St. Mike's tournament. The game will tip off at 4 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce men's basketball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).