LIU-C.W. POST HOLIDAY CLASSIC
Franklin Pierce Rolls 
Past NYIT, 78-49
Minnifield returns and leads Ravens 
in ending four-game slide

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (December 29, 2005) – Franklin Pierce put an end to a four-game losing streak with a commanding 78-49 victory over New York Institute of Technology on day one of the 2005 LIU-C.W. Post Holiday Classic at the Pratt Recreation Center this afternoon.

Junior guard Darryl Minnifield (Boston, Mass./Brookline) returned to the Franklin Pierce lineup after battling some early season injuries and led the way with a game-high 18 points, connecting on seven-of-11 shots from the field, to go with four rebounds and two steals in just 24 minutes of action.

Freshman Craig Shepherd (Grantham, N.H./Trinity) came off the bench and netted a season-best 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 3-3 from three-point range, and three rebounds. Senior Justin Powell (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) added 11 points, on 5-6 shooting, and four boards, while sophomore Joseph Chatman (Boston, Mass./BC High) chipped in a team-high six rebounds and six assists to go with seven points and two steals.

Freshman Bryant Lassiter (Bayshore, N.Y./Bayshore) led NYIT with 14 points and four steals. Junior Jermain Stokes (Ocala, Fla./Western Oklahoma State) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and blocked four shots, while senior Edwin Ebanks (Bellerose, N.Y./Floral Park) and freshman Daniel Cox (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) each chipped in six points.

Franklin Pierce out-rebounded NYIT 44-29 for the contest and connected on 53.3-percent (32-60) of its shots from the field, including 7-of-12 (58.3%) from three-point range. The Bears hit on just 31% (18-58) from the floor, making just 4-28 (14.3%) from beyond the arc.

The Ravens never trailed and built a 15-point halftime lead (38-23), holding NYIT scoreless for a six-minute stretch in opening a double-digit lead (27-14) they would never relinquish with 5:28 left in the half.

Another five-minute NYIT drought early in the second half helped Franklin Pierce open a 26-point cushion (54-28) after a Chatman three-pointer. The Ravens held a pair of 33-point leads and a 34-point bulge (72-38), after a Shepherd three with 4:18 to play, down the stretch.

Franklin Pierce (4-4, 1-3 NE-10) concludes 2005 tomorrow against host LIU-C.W. Post at 5 p.m. The Pioneers held on for a 72-70 victory over Assumption College in today’s second contest. NYIT (1-7) faces Assumption tomorrow at 3 p.m.

BOXSCORE