Franklin Pierce Downs 
Le Moyne, 58-49
Strong defensive effort lifts Ravens 
to second-straight win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (January 5, 2006) – Franklin Pierce picked up its second-straight win with a 58-49 decision over Le Moyne College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at Grant Court tonight.

            Senior forward Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) led Franklin Pierce with a game-high 17 points, as he hit 7-of-12 shots from the field and converted all three free-throw attempts, to go with three rebounds, four assists and three steals. Junior Sean Mayo (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) nearly notched a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds (three offensive). Senior Pierre Sully (Jamaica Plain, Mass./North Cambridge) added 11 points and three rebounds, while freshman Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) chipped in nine points off the bench.

            Senior Sid Pond (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) was the lone Le Moyne player to reach double-figures, netting ten points to go with three rebounds, four blocks and four steals. Sophomore Jason Holmes (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) added eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while freshman Luke Postorino (Clearwater, Fla./Bridgton Academy) chipped in eight points off the bench.            

Franklin Pierce jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after a conventional three-point play by Mayo 2:45 into the contest. The Ravens lead was 11 (24-13) after a Sully lay-up midway through the opening half and 15 (30-15) after Powell finished a three-point play with 7:09 left in the frame.

            Le Moyne finished the half with a 16-6 run to close within five points (36-31) after two Holmes free throws just before the break. The Dolphins forged a 38-38 tie after a Matt Cooper (Fulton, N.Y./Fulton) lay-up 2:09 into the second half.

            Le Moyne looked to take its first lead of the game, but freshman Damani Corbin (Brooklyn, N.Y./Frederick Douglass) missed a dunk and was whistled for a technical foul for hanging on the rim. Munch hit one of the two technical foul shots and Powell hit a lay-up as the Ravens regained a lead they would not relinquish (41-38) with 17:22 to play.

            Franklin Pierce opened an eight-point lead (52-44) after a Powell jumper with 5:31 to play before Le Moyne ended a five-minute drought with a Postorino three-pointer with 5:07 left. The Ravens advantage was four (53-49) after Postorino canned a pair of free-throws with 3:41 to play, but the Dolphins would not score again and the Ravens hit five of six free-throw attempts in the final minute to ice the contest.

Franklin Pierce (6-5, 3-3 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Saint Michael’s College at 3:30 p.m. Le Moyne (5-7, 1-7 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at 3 p.m.

BOXSCORE