McDevitt, Bench Depth Powers Ravens to Conference Win

RINDGE, N.H. (December 3, 2016) – Franklin Pierce University forward Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) racked up a team-best 16 points and eight boards as the Ravens defeated Northeast-10 Conference opponent Assumption College 84-61 on Saturday afternoon in The Fieldhouse. The win improves the Ravens to 4-4, 3-2 NE10 and the loss drops the visitors to 2-5, 2-3 NE10.

McDevitt shot 7-of-11 (63.6%) including 2-of-3 (66.7%) from distance. FPU was forced to empty the bench early in the contest as four of their five starters entered foul trouble during the first half of the contest. The Raven reserves poured in 32 points to the Greyhounds 15. Pierce also outrebounded their counterparts 38-to-21 and shared the rock more, 18 assists to six.

Dustin Cole (Standish, Maine) played 20 minutes off the pine and dropped nine points, hitting 3-of-4 (75.0%) of his long range attempts. Marvilio Berroa (Bronx, N.Y.) added eight points, three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in extended minutes. David Bradbury (Deep River, Conn.) and Falu Seck (Washington, D.C.) scored six points apiece and Seck lead all guards in the contest with six rebounds.

For the guests, Marcus Murray racked up a game-high 20 points on 7-of-11 (63.6%) shooting. Karl Ziegler chipped in double figures with 11 markers.

Murray accounted for the game's opening four points as he knocked down two free throws and hit a transition jumper. Asante Sandiford (Boston, Mass.) got the hosts on the board with a three-ball from the left wing that was assisted by teammate Matt Banton (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

After the two conversions by Ziegler, McDevitt threw a cross court pass to Cole who was camping out in the corner. The junior guard caught the ball, shot and swished the rock home to bring his squad within two, 8-6. Four straight from Assumption including a two handed slam by center Nick Pasquale gave them their largest lead of the game.

Jordan Lackey (South Plainfield, N.J.) began a 9-0 Raven run with a layup from down low. Sandiford responded with the next seven points to give his team the lead after he swished home a three-ball from the top of the point in transition. Both squads traded points as the Greyhounds regained the advantage to their side after Murray split a pair of freebies.

Cole answered by splashing home a shot from long range at the top of the arc to put his team up one, 18-17 with 7:40 left in the half. The Greyhounds again, regained control of the contest as they held a two score lead at 25-21 due to Murray free throws. The hosts then headed into the intermission on a 13-4 scoring binge with Berroa using his sweet stroke to connect on two long range attempts down the stretch. FPU held a five point 34-29 lead at the break.

In the opening two minutes of the stanza, a 6-0 mini-run by the Greyhounds put them ahead by a point at 35-34. The Crimson and Grey however took a strangle hold in the game using a game-changing 23-3 scoring binge that was led by an assault from three-point land. Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.) ended the run with a layup after a steal of Justin Tuckson by Sandiford that put his team up 19, 57-38 with 10:52 left.

Tuckson knocked home a jumper to cut the Greyhound deficit to 15, but that's the closest they would come as the Ravens piled on points during the final minutes of the contest.

Jordan Lackey tallied 12 points and grabbed five caroms for Franklin Pierce, while Sandiford scored 10 points and snagged four boards. Gittens only played 13 minutes of action, but was productive with six points, four rebounds and four dimes in the win.

The Ravens travel to NE10 foe Merrimack College on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off

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 men's basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).