Men’s Basketball triumphant comeback downs LIU Post to open 2014-15 campaign

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (November 15, 2014) – Sophomore guard Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.) collected a team-high 21 points as the Ravens shaved off a 16-point defecit before the end of the first half, to go on and take the win over the LIU Post Pioneers 71-62 at Pratt Recreational Center.

Gittens would flourish, as he also dished out eight assists, collected four rebounds, rejected two blocks, and snatched a steal to go along with his 21 point performance. Coming up big behind Gittens would be senior guard Paul Becklens (Boston, Mass.) and fellow sophomore Jaleel Bell (Boston, Mass.). The Beantown duo would combine for 7-11 behind the three-point arc, as Bell finished with a career-high 17 points, while Becklens added 14. The other Raven to finish in double-digits was senior Ryen Vilmont (Philadelphia, Pa.) who collected 11 on the night, along with five rebounds and two assists. Freshman Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) would also contribute with a team-high six rebounds.

The Ravens struggled at the start of the game, and as a whole in the first half. Franklin Pierce would fire fewer than 30 percent from the three point line, as well as total shots for the half, going 10-34 (29.4%). However, LIU Post began to struggle toward the end of the half, creating a door for the Ravens to take. They did so, only entering the locker room at half only down by eight. The Ravens would catch fire as the Pioneers would go ice cold in the second half, shooting 47.2% from the floor, and over 50% from 3-point land, while LIU Post would dip to 36% shooting from 42% in the first half. However, the most damage was done from behind the arc, where the Pioneers would shoot a measly 14.3% in the second half, and a total of 3-16 on the game.

P.J. Torres and Isaiah Stokley were keys for the Pioneers, as Torres collected a team-high 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for a double-double, while Stokley was able to drop 14 points and collect nine rebounds. Charles McCann would also end with a solid game for LIU Post, as he collected 13 points on 5-7 shooting on the night.

The Ravens will return to the Pratt Recreational Center again tomorrow, Sunday, November 16 when they face New York Tech at 1 p.m. for their final game at the LIU Post Tip-Off Tournament, followed by their appearance against Division I St. John's at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the NIT Invitational Season Tip-Off Tournament in Queens, N.Y.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).