Greyhounds pull away late for first win of the season

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 21, 2006) - Assumption College collected its first win of the season with a 61-51 decision over Franklin Pierce in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Laska Gym tonight.

Assumption hit 50-percent (13-26) of its shots from the field in the second half, while holding Franklin Pierce to 23.8% (5-21) over the final 20 minutes, and the Ravens turned the ball over 22 times in the contest. The Greyhounds shot 43.6% (24-55) from the field overall, while Franklin Pierce connected on just 30.4% (14-46) of its attempts.

Freshman Courtland Bluford (Fort Washington, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) led a balanced Assumption effort with 13 points, while junior Greg Twomey (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) added 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Junior Mike Foti (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) chipped in nine points, four steals and three rebounds.            

Senior Sean Mayo (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) notched his second-straight double-double for Franklin Pierce, finishing with 11 points and a career-best 15 rebounds (five offensive). Sophomore Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) led all scorers with 20 points (13 second half) and eight rebounds, while freshman Marcus Wellman (Monroe, Conn./Hamden Hall) chipped in a season-best ten points.

Despite trailing by as many as 13 points (19-6) after a Foti jumper with 11:37 remaining in the first half, Franklin Pierce outscored Assumption, 19-6 over the remainder of the stanza to forge a 25-25 deadlock entering the intermission. Munch scored all seven of his first half points during the run.

Neither team could separate themselves in the second half until the final five minutes, as Franklin Pierce got off just five shots from the field and missed them all after Munch canned a three-pointer that gave the Ravens their last lead (45-42) with 6:36 to play. Assumption closed the game out with another 19-6 run, converting 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to ice the win.

Franklin Pierce (1-2, 0-1 NE-10) is home for the first time on Sunday when it hosts Bryant University at 3:30 p.m. Assumption (1-2, 1-0 NE-10) travels to Saint Anselm College on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

BOXSCORE