RINDGE, N.H. (12/7/22) – The Franklin Pierce men's basketball team worked off a balanced first half to decisively defeat Saint Michael's College, 66-40, in a Northeast-10 Conference showdown at The Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

The home victory improves men's basketball's record to 5-3 (3-2 NE10) on the season, as Saint Michael's drops to 6-4 (2-3 NE10) with their third consecutive loss.

After the opening minute failed to produce a point for either team, the opening half's first ten minutes would feature seven different lead changes between the Ravens and Purple Knights. At 8:59 of the half, sophomore JB Mukeba (Lynn, Mass.) changed the lead for an eighth time on a layup to put the Ravens back ahead 16-15, who would not look back from there. Over the remainder of the half, the Ravens seized control of the contest with a 20-2 scoring run that included a trio of three-pointers from senior guard Brandon Kolek (Cumberland, R.I.), who finished the half with a total 11 points from the floor. To close out the upper frame, sophomore Jarnel Snow-Guzman (Lynn, Mass.) knocked down a final jumper from the free-throw line, providing the hosts with a 34-17 advantage at the break.

For the Ravens, the second half needed no more than a preservation effort from the team, opening with a 17-point lead in hand. In an effort to do so, the Ravens made sure they matched the Purple Knights on the scoreboard drive-for-drive, allowing only a plus-two point differential through the first ten minutes. With Pierce leading 52-38 at the 7:12 mark, junior Antonio Chandler (Piscataway, N.J.) pushed the Raven lead ahead by three points after drawing a foul on a layup, securing the extra point on the and-one. Over the course of the next three minutes, both Chandler and junior Sean Bresnan (Yonkers, N.Y.) would combine for nine unanswered points, putting Pierce ahead 62-39 with three minutes to play. To close the contest, momentum remained with the Ravens as sophomore Mohamad Traore (Hyde Park, Mass.) secured the final four points on the night, finalizing the 66-40 evening.

Brandon Kolek led all players with 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists across 35 minutes played, going 6-of-14 from the floor. Sean Bresnan also chipped in with 14 points, six rebounds, and three steals, while Antonio Chandler matched a career-high 11 points in the effort, pulling in six rebounds of his own. From the bench, the Raven reserves pulled through with 23 points scored, as the team shot 22-of-53 (41.5%) in field goals.

The Ravens will take a break of conference play in their next matchup on Saturday, December 10^th where they will travel to Caldwell University for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff.