Seck Records New Career Best, Ravens Sky Over Purple Knights

This Franklin Pierce University men's basketball recap is presented by Belletetes

RINDGE, N.H. (February 9, 2019) – Franklin Pierce University men's basketball junior guard Falu Seck (Washington, D.C.) scored a career-high 28 points as the Crimson and Grey were victorious 87-74 against Northeast-10 Conference opponent Saint Michael's College Saturday afternoon during "Rocky the Raven" birthday bash. With the win, FPU stays in fourth place in the Northeast Division at 12-11, 8-8 NE10 while the Purple Knights stumble to 6-15, 3-13 NE10.

Seck tallied 18 of his 28 markers in the first half going 6-of-8 (75%) from the floor and 5-of-7 (71.4%) from beyond the arc. He finished the game with 58.8% (10-of-17) field goal efficiency and dished out three assists. He bettered his previous career-high of 23 points set against Jefferson last season on January 3, 2018.

Teammates Jeremy Arthur (Westbury, N.Y.) and Doyin Fadojutimi (Temple Hills, Md.) joined Seck in double-figures. Arthur produced 18 points on efficient 5-of-7 (71.4%), 3-of-5 (60%) three-point and 5-of-5 (100%) from the charity stripe in only 22 minutes of play. All of his production came in the second half as he racked up two early fouls in three first-half minutes. Fadojutimi stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal.

Graduate student Lolami Lola-Charles (Aberdeen, Md.) matched a career-best with 10 rebounds – four offensive and sophomore guard Sam van Oostrum (Sheffield, England) filled the box score with a game-high five assists, three rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one point.

For Saint Michael's Levi Holmes III was dominant on offense leading all scorers with 30 points – 13 of them coming at the stripe. Winston Jones II had a double-double with 13 points and a contest-best 11 caroms.

FPU outshot their counterparts (50.9%-to-38.3%) and their bench outproduced Saint Michael's (17-to-0) however the Purple Knights had 32 points in the paint compared to the Ravens 26 and more second-chance points.

Pierce began the contest on a 12-2 run scoring the matchups first seven points. Freshman guard Isaiah Moore (Temple Hills, Md.) corralled a skip pass by Seck and rifled home a left corner three to begin the binge and Lola-Charles ended the spurt putting up an offensive board on the left block. Two Jones II freebies at the 14:15 mark made it a two-possession game, 16-12.

A 15-2 run for the Ravens gave them their largest lead of the first half, 29-16. The key play in the outburst was the Ravens press which led to Jordan Guzman throwing the ball away. Seck took advantage and connected on a right baseline runner to open up the double-digit edge. SMC answered with a 12-3 run of their own to bring their deficit down to four, 32-28. Holmes III kickstarted the binge with a rare four-point play by sinking a three on the left wing while being fouled. Moore and Seck grew the Raven advantage back up to nine, however, eight straight by Saint Michael's tied the contest 37-37. Seck pushed the Ravens back in front with his final three of the half.

Guzman and Derek Cheatom gave the guests a short-lived two-point, 42-40 lead. The game of runs continued for FPU as a huge 19-3 run upped their advantage to 59-45 with 13:36 to go. Arthur was the catalyst knocking home two three-balls and producing 11 of those 19 markers. Nine consecutive points for Saint Michael's made it a two-possession game following a DiGrande layup. The teams swapped points back and forth over the next few minutes until Fadojutimi pushed the Ravens ahead 72-63 late in the half after picking off a pass and going the other way for a dunk. SMC tried to mount a comeback; however, the Ravens pulled away late for the win.

FPU remains at home on Wednesday for a conference contest against Merrimack College with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://www.fpuravens.com). 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://www.fpuravens.com/store). You can also follow the men's basketball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensMBB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpuravensmbb/).