Late Run Lifts Bloomfield 
Past Franklin Pierce, 89-81
Deacons’ backcourt duo combines for 52 points 
in shooting past Ravens 

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (December 29, 2004) – Bloomfield College remained perfect on the season and handed Franklin Pierce its fifth-straight loss with an 89-81 decision in day one action of the Comfort Suites Holiday Classic, hosted by Bryant University, at the Chace Wellness & Athletic Center tonight.

            Bloomfield’s backcourt combo of junior Daniel Terrell (Somerdale, N.J.) and sophomore Andre Dabney (Plainfield, N.J.) combined for 52 of the Deacons’ 89 points on the evening. Dabney led all scorers with 30 points (17 second half) to go with seven rebounds and three steals, while Terrell netted 22 points (13 second half), dished six assists and added five rebounds. Junior Allen Valentine (West Orange, N.J.) chipped in 13 points and seven boards.

            Junior forward Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) led Franklin Pierce with 22 points (12 first half),  nine rebounds (six offensive) and four steals. Freshman Mitchell Johnson (Nassau, Bahamas/Cushing Academy) netted 20 points (14 second half), aided by six-of-12 shooting from three-point range, seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Darryl Minnifield (Boston, Mass./Brookline) grabbed a game and season-high ten rebounds, while freshman Dominik Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif./A.B. Miller) chipped in nine points and four assists.            

The contest featured 14 lead-changes (eight in the second half), but a 53.1-percent (17-32) shooting effort allowed Bloomfield to expand upon a two-point (40-38) lead at the break.

            The Deacons held a seven-point (69-62) lead with 6:20 to play, but a quick 8-0 Franklin Pierce run gave the Ravens a one-point lead (70-69) with 5:01 on the clock. Mitchell Johnson drained a three-pointer and junior Tom Sadler (Oxford, England) converted a conventional three-point play to spark the rally.

            However, Bloomfield regained the lead with a Dabney three and extended its cushion to eight points (78-70) with 2:33 left in regulation. Dabney added a pair of free-throws to put the Deacons up nine (81-72) with 54-seconds on the clock. Mitchell Johnson canned a trifecta to pull the Ravens within six (81-75) with 50-seconds left, but that was as close as the Ravens got.

            Franklin Pierce (2-6, 1-3 NE-10) is back in action tomorrow for day two action of the Comfort Suites Holiday Classic tomorrow night against New Jersey Institute of Technology at 5 p.m. Bloomfield (9-0, 4-0 CACC) will face host Bryant tomorrow at 7 p.m. Bryant (5-3, 2-3 NE-10) posted a 78-39 victory over NJIT (5-6, 4-1 CACC) in tonight’s first game.

BOX SCORE