Men's Basketball Hangs Tought but Can't Pull of Comeback Versus Merrimack
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(.)