Junior Derek Rodgerson led all scorers with 17 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists

Franklin Pierce Opens with Win Over Lynn, 75-60
Ravens hold hosts to 33-percent shooting at Palm Beach Sunshine Hoops Challenge

BOCA RATON, Fla. (December 19, 2002) - The Franklin Pierce men's basketball team got its weekend off to a great start with a 75-60 victory over host Lynn University in game three action of the Palm Beach Sunshine Hoops Challenge tonight.

Franklin Pierce picks up just its second win of the season, as a 15-3 run midway through the second half gave the Ravens a 15-point cushion with 3:23 to play. Franklin Pierce held Lynn without a field goal over an 8:38 span to pull away from the hosts.

Junior Jimmie Hunt recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds

Junior Jimmie Hunt (Utica, N.Y./Mount Ararat (Maine)) led the Ravens with his first career double-double, totaling 13 points and ten rebounds to go along with three assists. Classmate Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) led all scorers with 17 points, on six-of-ten shooting from the floor and 4-6 at the line, to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Senior Allister Gall (Plymouth, England) added 13 points, canning four of six three-point attempts, while classmate Zvonko Ilic (Nis, Yugoslavia) chipped in 12 points and three steals.

The Ravens managed just a 33-33 tie at halftime despite shooting 52-percent (13-25) from the field in the stanza compared to 35.5% (11-31) for the Knights. Franklin Pierce torched the nets from long-range in the second half, hitting 6-10 from beyond the arc, while holding Lynn to 31.3% (10-32) shooting over the final 20 minutes (2-15 from three-point range).

Gall sparked the decisive run with one of his four trifectas, while a Hunt three pushed the Ravens lead to double-figures (62-52) with 6:36 to play. The Knights would never get back to within single digits again and Franklin Pierce extended the lead to 16 (74-58) with 1:14 to play.

Sophomore Justin Wingard led Lynn with 13 points and six rebounds (four offensive). Classmate James Taylor totaled 11 points, five boards and two steals, while Akil Lewis registered ten points.

Franklin Pierce (2-6, 1-4 NE-10) returns to action tomorrow evening (5 p.m.) for day two action of the Palm Beach Sunshine Hoops Challenge when its faces Barry University (8-0), receiving votes in this week's Division II Bulletin Top 25 poll, who topped University of Puerto Rico-Cayey, 80-46, earlier in the day. Lynn (6-3) hosts University of Indianapolis at 7 p.m.

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