Second Half Surge Lifts 
Florida Gulf Coast Over 
Franklin Pierce, 64-52
Eagles out-score Ravens 23-10 off turnovers, 
22-3 at the free-throw line 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 11, 2004) – Florida Gulf Coast University handed Franklin Pierce its fourth-straight loss with a 64-52 decision in non-conference men’s basketball action at Alico Arena tonight.

            Seniors Kevin Martin (Maplewood, N.J.) and Ryan Hopkins (Parkersburg, W.V.) led a balanced Florida Gulf Coast attack with 11 points each and were the lone Eagles to reach double-figures. Martin also added four rebounds and two steals. Classmate Juan Cedeno (Maracay, Venezuela) contributed seven points and a game-best nine rebounds (six offensive).

            The Eagles were held to 39.1-percent (18-46) shooting from the field, including 45.8% (11-24) in the second half, but turned 22 Franklin Pierce turnovers into 23 points and out-scored the Ravens 22-30 at the line, including 15-2 over the final 20 minutes.            

Freshman Mitchell Johnson (Nassau, Bahamas/Cushing Academy) led Franklin Pierce with a game-high 18 points (12 first half), hitting six-of-ten from the field, including 5-9 from three-point range. Junior Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) added ten points and seven rebounds (five offensive), while freshman Darrell Anderson (Kansas City, Kan./The Winchendon School) chipped in six points, four boards and three blocks.

            After FGCU scored the first eight points of the contest, Franklin Pierce responded and led by four (18-14) with 6:26 to play in the first half after a Johnson jumper. A 7-4 Eagles run, sparked by a Hopkins three, put the Eagles back in front with 2:43 left in the half – a margin they would maintain after trading points over the final 90-seconds of the stanza.

            FGCU opened a quick six-point edge five minutes into the second half after a pair of free throws by sophomore Marcus Parker (Milton, Fla.), but the Ravens responded with a 7-1 run, keyed by a Johnson three to pull even (34-34) with 12:24 to play, but the Eagles responded with a 9-2 run to open a seven-point edge after a three from senior Kelvin Coggins (Alexandria, Va.) with 9:53 left on the clock.

            Franklin Pierce would scratch back within four (49-45) after another Johnson three, but the Eagles put the game out of reach with an 11-2 run to open a 13-point lead (60-47) with 1:53 to play. Hopkins drained a three-pointer and junior Marcus Watts (North Port, Fla.) added four points to key the stretch.

            Franklin Pierce (2-5, 1-3 NE-10) is off until after Christmas when it faces Bloomfield College at the Comfort Suites Holiday Classic, hosted by Bryant University, on Wednesday, December 29, at 7 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast (7-3) hosts West Florida on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE