Franklin Pierce
Overcomes Merrimack, 74-65 WINCHENDON, MASS (December 7, 2002) - Junior Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine/Hampden Academy) recorded a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the Franklin Pierce men's basketball team to its first Conference win, as they defeated Merrimack College, 74-65, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Winchendon School Gymnasium this evening. Rodgerson hit 6-for-11 (.545) from the field and an outstanding 4-7 (571) from three-point range to lead all scorers on the night. Classmate Jimmie Hunt (Utica, N.Y./Mount Ararat, (Maine)) followed with 12 points and eight rebounds, while senior Zvonko Ilic (Nis, Yugoslavia) chipped in ten points.
Merrimack was led by sophomore Basil Wajd, who totaled 16 points and eight rebounds. Junior Korran Rivers added 15 points, while sophomore Kent Leahy recorded his fifth-straight double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The Ravens got off to a good start, as senior Josh Steinberger (Walden, N.Y./Valley Central) opened up a 14-4 run with back-to-back field goals minutes after tip-off. The Warriors whittled away the gap, however, going on an 11-2 run midway through the first half to knot the score 21-21. Rodgerson sparked a 13-0 run with a three-point bucket at the 7:03 mark to help the Ravens gain the 13-point advantage, its biggest lead of the game The Warriors fought back in the second half, as Wajd sparked a 7-2 run, scoring five points in a span of two minutes to cut the Ravens' lead to two. The teams battled back and fourth midway through the half and Merrimack started gaining ground, knotting the score once again (55-55). The Ravens regained the lead with a 6-0 run at the 7:23 mark to hold a six-point lead it would never relinquish. The Warriors came within four points at the 1:38 mark, but two free throws by Hunt and senior Tom Waterman (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) iced the win. Franklin Pierce (1-5,
1-3 NE-10) returns to the court on Monday when it hosts LeMoyne College
in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at the FP |
