BOX SCORE

When and Where: November 24, 2015 – Rindge, N.H. (The Fieldhouse)
Score: Franklin Pierce University 80, Southern New Hampshire University 70
Records: Franklin Pierce 3-1 (2-0 Northeast-10), SNHU 3-3 (0-2 Northeast-10)

Senior Rodney Sanders (Elizabeth, N.J.) led five scorers in double figures with 19 points and junior Chris Walters (Stamford, Conn.) recorded his third career double-double in the last four games, but the Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball team fell to Franklin Pierce University, 80-70, Tuesday evening at The Fieldhouse.

Sanders found his shooting stroke again as he was 8-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, while also pulling in six rebounds and handing out a pair of assists. Walters scored 13 points (3-10 FG, 7-10 FT), collected 10 rebounds and blocked two shots. Junior Devin Gilligan (Amherst, N.H.) posted 14 points (3-9 FG, 1-5 3-FG, 7-12 FT) and seven rebounds, while freshman Daquaise Andrews (Queens, N.Y.) tallied 11 points (3-12 FG, 5-8 FT), six boards, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Junior Adrian Oliveira (Pawtucket, R.I.) was also in double figures with 10 points (4-9 FG, 1-1 3-FG, 1-2 FT) to go along with three rebounds and three assists.

Mike McDevitt led the Ravens with a game-high 23 points, while Donte Gittens added 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three blocks.

The opening six-and-a-half minutes were home to four ties and four lead changes as a 10-0 rush from the Penmen – sparked by back-to-back Sanders triples – gave the visitors a game-high seven-point lead at 17-10 with 11:20 remaining in the opening half.

An 8-0 counter-run from Franklin Pierce catapulted the Ravens into the lead at 18-17 midway through the stanza, but another back-and-forth battle ensued as three ties and four lead changes resulted in a 28-28 ballgame with 4:35 left before the half. A Gittens layup with 23 seconds on the clock sent Franklin Pierce into the break with a 32-29 advantage.

SNHU opened the second half on a 13-6 run that was highlighted by treys from Oliveira, Sanders and Gilligan, in addition to featuring five different scorers, and built a 44-38 lead for the Penmen nearly four minutes into the frame.

Franklin Pierce responded by ripping off a game-changing 18-1 run – with 10 points from McDevitt and five from Gittens – to open a 56-45 lead midway through the second half. A 9-3 stretch two minutes later gave the hosts their largest lead of the night at 67-52 with 3:43 to play. 

A 7-0 surge – with four points from Walters, who capped the run with a dunk – trimmed the Penmen deficit to eight at 67-59 with under two minutes on the clock. Southern New Hampshire would get as close as seven at 74-67 with 42 seconds left, but the Ravens went a perfect 6-for-6 at the line to seal it.

Notes:
-Franklin Pierce outshot Southern New Hampshire, 48.3 percent (28-58) to 37.5 percent (21-56), including 44.4 percent (8-18) to 27.8 percent (5-18) from beyond the arc and 41.2 percent (14-34) to 28.6 percent (8-28) in the opening stanza.
-Southern New Hampshire was plus-seven at the line, but only made 23 of its 36 chances (63.9%), while the Ravens were 16 of 23 (69.6%).
-SNHU captured the glass, 41-38, including 15-9 on the offensive end for a 14-8 gap in second chance points.
-Franklin Pierce narrowly won the paint (32-28) and had a better assist-to-turnover ratio (16/14-9/17).

Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Wednesday, Dec. 2 (7:30 p.m.) when they play host to Assumption College on Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night in a game that can be seen live on NESNplus at the SNHU Fieldhouse. Tickets can be purchased HERE or at the box office on the day of the game.

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