Concordia
Shoots Past RINDGE,
N.H. (December 21, 2005) – Concordia
College used a lights-out first half shooting performance to post an
80-66 victory over Franklin Pierce in non-conference men’s
basketball action tonight at the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse. Concordia
hit 64.3-percent (18-28) of its shots from the field in the first
half, including a scorching 6-for-9 (66.7%) from three-point range, to
open a 47-29 halftime lead and never looked back. Senior
guard Anthony Lee (Norwalk, Conn.) led four Concordia
players in double-figures with a game-high 24 points as he hit 7-of-13
from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range, to go with nine
rebounds and four assists. Classmate Brian Antonelli (Staten
Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic) added 13 points, aided by 3-4
shooting from beyond the arc, while senior Andre Taylor
(Freeport, N.Y./Nassau CC) notched a double-double with ten
points and a game-best ten boards. Junior Jonathan Duperon (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) came off the bench to net 11 points, while senior Jonathan Garrett (Hollis, N.Y./North Country CC) registered eight points, a game-best ten assists, six rebounds and three steals.
Senior
Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) led Franklin
Pierce with 14 points, hitting 6-of-11 shots from the floor, and six
rebounds (five offensive). Classmate Pierre Sully (Jamaica
Plain, Mass./North Cambridge) contributed 11 points, a
team-high seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sophomore Joseph
Chatman (Boston, Mass./BC High) added ten points, four assists
and four steals, while freshman Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas,
Lithuania/The Winchendon School) chipped in seven points and
six boards (four offensive) in 14 minutes off the bench. Franklin
Pierce held its lone lead of the night (15-14) after a pair of Sean
Mayo (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) free-throws 6:55 into the
contest. However, a 23-2 Concordia run over the next eight minutes put
the Clippers in charge (37-17) with 5:14 to play in the stanza. Lee
netted 14 points in the opening 20 minutes, while Antonelli had ten
and Garrett finished the half with eight assists. The
Ravens started the second half strong, cutting the Clippers lead to 11
points (54-43) after a Sully three-pointer 5:54 into the stanza.
However, Concordia regained control and led by as much as 25 points
(77-52) with 6:15 to play and were never threatened again. While
Concordia shot 59.2% (29-49) from the field, including 9-17 (52.9%)
from three-point land, Franklin Pierce managed just 32.9% (23-70)
shooting, including 4-26 (15.4%) from beyond the arc. The Ravens hit
just 10-39 (25.6%) in the second half. Franklin Pierce (3-4, 1-3 NE-10) returns to action next Thursday when it faces New York Institute of Technology at the LIU-C.W. Post Holiday Classic on Long Island. Concordia (3-7, 2-3 NYCAC) visits Saint Michael’s College next Thursday at 7 p.m. |
