Varanauskas posts double-double with career-bests of 23 points and 17 rebounds

Boxscore 

MANCHESTER, N.H. (November 15, 2008) - The Franklin Pierce men's basketball team got its season off to a running start with a 79-60 victory over Nyack College on day one of the Country Inn & Suites Tip-off Tournament, hosted by Saint Anselm College, at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium this afternoon.

Senior forward Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) led Franklin Pierce with career-best totals of 23 points and 17 rebounds for his third career double-double. He also dished six assists and blocked two shots in 31 minutes of action, hitting 9-of-12 shots from the field, including all three three-point attempts, and converting 2-of-3 free-throw attempts.

Sophomore Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) added 13 points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field (2-5 three's). Sophomore Mike Barrow (Mattapan, Mass./Hebron Academy) posted 11 points, nine rebounds and two steals, while classmate Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Senior guard Valiant Jones (Los Angeles, Calif.) led Nyack with 16 points and four assists, while classmate Stedford McLeod (Bronx, N.Y.) added 15 points and five rebounds. Junior Jose Lopez (Patchogue, N.Y.) finished with ten points and two assists.  

Franklin Pierce shot 56-percent (28-for-50) from the field on the afternoon, including 6-for-11 (54.5%) from three-point range, and out-rebounded Nyack by a 47-32 margin. The Ravens held Nyack to 33.3-percent (23-for-69) shooting from the field, just 3-for-14 (21.4%) from three-point range, and the Warriors closed the game with 30.8% (12-39) shooting in the second half.

Franklin Pierce opened a nine-point lead (23-14) nine minutes into the contest after a Dozier three-pointer. The Ravens extended their lead to 16 points (37-21) when a Manchester three with 3:57 left in the opening half capped a 14-5 run.

Franklin Pierce held a 14 point (43-29) halftime lead and extended it to a game-high 23 points (66-43) after a basket by senior Craig Shepherd (Grantham, N.H./Trinity) with 7:57 to play and never looked back.

Franklin Pierce (1-0, 0-0 NE-10) is back in action tomorrow for day two of the tip-off tournament when it faces Dowling College at 1:30 p.m. Dowling dropped an 84-72 decision to host Saint Anselm in today's second game. Nyack (0-1, 0-0 CACC) faces Saint Anselm tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.