FP
Falls at Saint Michael's, 89-79
Ravens squander career-high 34 point
effort by Kwity
COLCHESTER, Vt.
(January 21, 2002) - Five Saint Michael's College players
reached double-figures, led by sophomore Ben Smith's double-double,
to defeat Franklin Pierce College, 89-79, in Northeast-10
Conference men's basketball action at the Ross Sports Center
tonight.
Smith totaled 20 points,
aided by a four-for-six night from three-point range, and
ten rebounds (four offensive) to lead Saint Michael's. Sophomore
Delbert Randall added 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists
and two blocks, while senior Tunde Adekola totaled 18 points,
six boards and two steals.
Franklin Pierce squandered
a career-high 34-point effort by junior V.J. Kwity
(Torrance, Calif./West) as the tri-captain hit 11-18
from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range, and
8-10 at the free-throw line for the night. Kwity also grabbed
a team-high eight rebounds, dished four assists and snared
two steals.
Trailing 24-22 with
8:53 to play in the first half, Saint Michael's used an
11-0 run to take its largest lead of the half (33-24) with
4:17 to play in the stanza. Smith sparked the run with six
points.
The Ravens cut the
deficit to three points (39-26) by halftime and in the second
half pulled ahead by four points on two occasions. With FP
holding a 53-49 lead with 13:06 to play, Smith canned
a three-pointer and was fouled by FP
senior Zvonko
Ilic (Nis, Yugoslavia/K.K. Student). Smith drained
the free throw and Saint Michael's took the lead for good
with back-to-back baskets by Randall with 11-minutes to
play.
The Purple Knights
lead grew to 12 points after an Adekola lay-up with 2:02
to play and SMC hit all five free-throw attempts down the
stretch to seal the win.
Rounding out the double-figure
scorers for Saint Mike's were senior Anthony Scott and junior
Will Witcher with 14 points apiece. Scott also dished four
assists, while Witcher grabbed eight boards and four steals.
Sophomore Derek
Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) added
14 points, four rebounds and three assists for FPC, while
senior Kevin Scott (Mississauga, Ontario/Iona Catholic)
chipped in ten points, six boards and two blocks.
FP
(9-8, 6-7 NE-10)
returns home for the first time in over two weeks when it
hosts Saint Anselm College on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
Saint Michael's (9-7, 6-7 NE-10) travels to Southern New
Hampshire University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.