Press Release

SECOND-HALF SPURT GUIDES RAVENS TO 82-74 VICTORY Purple Knights lose third straight, fall to 1-7 in conference play FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              FOR MORE INFORMATION January 6, 2004                                                                                Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                        Phone: (802) 654-2537 RINDGE, N.H. - A 40-16 run to begin the second half was the difference as the Franklin Pierce College's men's basketball team bested Northeast-10 Conference rival Saint Michael's College, 82-74, on Tuesday at F.P.C. Fieldhouse. Five players scored in double figures for Franklin Pierce (6-5, 3-4 NE-10). Sophomore Tom Sadler (Oxford, England) notched a game-high 15 points and three blocks in just 18 minutes of action. Senior Derek Rodgerson (Newburgh, Maine) added 14 points, while classmate Jimmie Hunt (Utica, N.Y.) and freshman Marques Norris (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) chipped in 11. Freshman Darryl Minifield (Brookline, Mass.) contributed 10 points and a game-best nine rebounds. Saint Michael's (4-8, 1-7) was led by senior Ben Smith's (Southport Island, Maine/Boothbay Region) 13 points, including eight-of-eight from the free throw line. Sophomore Chase Graves (West Chester, Pa./Storm King) notched 12 points, while classmate Aaron Spaulding (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) added a career-high 10 points, all in the second half, before fouling out. The Ravens and Purple Knights battled through an even first half, with the score tied at 33 at intermission. Saint Michael's shot just 29 percent from the field in the opening stanza, including three-of-14 from beyond the arc, but was aided by 14-of-17 shooting from the charity stripe. Smith posted nine points in the period, while fellow co-captain Delbert Randall (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) scored all eight of his points in the opening 20 minutes. Franklin Pierce took control in the second half, reeling off 19 of the first 23 points to open up a 52-37 lead with 13:28 remaining. The Ravens stretched their lead to as much as 24 points, 73-49, with under seven minutes to play, before Saint Michael's closed the game with a 25-9 run. The Purple Knights shot a season-low 32 percent from the field in the contest, while hoisting a season-high 29 three-point attempts. Six players paced Saint Michael's with four rebounds apiece. Saint Michael's looks to end its three-game losing skid on Thursday, as the Purple Knights host league-foe Bentley College at 7:30 p.m. at the Ross Sports Center. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002