Manchester leads six Ravens in double figures with 22 points

Boxscore 

MANCHESTER, N.H. (November 16, 2008) - Franklin Pierce placed six players in double figures in posting an 89-76 victory over Dowling College in non-conference men's soccer action on day two of the Country Inn & Suites Tip-off Tournament, hosted by Saint Anselm College, at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium this afternoon.

Sophomore guard Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) poured in a game-high 22 points (11 each half) to lead six Franklin Pierce players in double figures. He made 5-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-for-11 from three-point range, to go with a perfect 8-of-8 shooting at the free-throw line. Senior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) posted a double-double for the second-straight day (fourth career) as he totaled 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds (five offensive).

Manchester and Varanauskas both earned a spot on the Country Inn & Suites All-Tournament team. Both averaged 17.5 points in the Ravens two wins this weekend, while Varanauskas contributed 14 rebounds per game as well.

Sophomore Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, while sophomore Mike Barrow (Mattapan, Mass./Hebron Academy) registered a career-best 15 points, on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, and five rebounds. Juniors Fred Lyles (Landover, Mass./Largo) and Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) each chipped in season-highs of 12 points.

Junior David Seagers (Bronx, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall Academy) led Dowling with 20 points on 8-for-25 shooting from the field, just 1-for-8 from beyond the arc, to go with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Freshman John Merchant (Monticello, N.Y./Tri-Valley Central) added 19 points, four rebounds and two steals, while senior Leonard Lans (Spring Valley, N.Y./Spring Valley) chipped in 11 points.

Franklin Pierce shot 45.4-percent (24-53) from the field, including 12-for-24 (50%) from three-point range, and converted 80.5% (33-for-41) of its free-throw attempts. Dowling finished shooting 39.7% (27-68) from the field, including 5-for-21 (23.8%) from three-point range, while hitting just 17-for-26 (65.4%) of its free-throws.

Dowling led most of the first half, including a six-point advantage (13-7) after a Seagers lay-up 6:17 into the contest. Down by four (24-20) with 6:39 left in the half, Franklin Pierce posted a 14-6 run over the next 4:35 to take a four point lead of its own after a Manchester three-pointer with 2:04 to go in the stanza. Dozier drained a three with 28-seconds left to put the Ravens up seven (40-33) at the break. 

Franklin Pierce extended its lead to 14 (49-35) after another Dozier three 2:43 into the second half. Dowling worked on the lead and had it down to four on two occasions midway through the half, the latter coming after a Seagers jumper (60-56) with 10:12 to go.

Franklin Pierce regained a ten point cushion (70-60) after two free-throws from Manchester and Varanauskas following a foul and technical by Dowling with 7:18 left. Dowling wouldn't go away and drew within a point (73-72) after a pair of free-throws from Lans with 3:18 to go.

However, Franklin Pierce reeled off a 14-2 run over the next 3:02 to seal the victory. The Ravens hit all seven free-throws in that stretch which was sparked by a Manchester three and highlighted by a Dozier dunk - who had six points during the run.

Franklin Pierce (2-0, 0-0 NE-10) opens its Northeast-10 Conference and home schedule on Wednesday when it hosts the University of Massachusetts Lowell as part of "Pierce Pride" Night at the University at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by WEEI 93.5 FM Keene. Dowling (0-2, 0-0 ECC) hosts Felician College next Sunday at 3 p.m.