Yellow Jackets freshman combo leads the way with 20-point outings

Boxscore 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 9, 2008) - American International College got 20-point performances from a pair of freshmen to claim a 70-61 victory over Franklin Pierce in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Butova Gymnasium tonight.

American International freshmen Isiah Wallace (Springfield, Mass./Sabis International Charter School) and Adrian Hynes-Guery (Montreal, Quebec) combined for 50 points to lead the way. Wallace netted a game-high 29 points (19 second half) on 8-of-11 shooting from the field (1-1 three) while converting 12-of-13 free-throw attempts to go with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. Hynes-Guery finished with 21 points (13 first half), aided by 9-of-12 shooting from the line, five rebounds and four assists. Senior Lucius Millinder (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) chipped in eight points and nine re bounds.

Sophomore Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) led three Franklin Pierce players in double-figures with 15 points, hitting 5-of-11 attempts from three-point range, and three rebounds. Senior Craig Shepherd (Grantham, N.H./Trinity) posted a season-high 12 points (ten first half) to go with six rebounds and two steals. Senior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) notched his third double-double of the season (fifth career) with ten points and career-high matching 17 rebounds. Varanauskas was aided by 6-of-10 shooting from the line as he made just 2-of-16 field goal attempts.

AIC shot 38.3-percent (18-for-47) from the field, including 42.9% (9-21) in the first half. The Yellow Jackets enjoyed a 31-9 scoring advantage from the free-throw line, going to the line 40 times (shooting 77.5%) compared to 14 trips to the line by Franklin Pierce (64.3%). The Ravens were held to 31.3% (21-67) shooting from the field, including 10-for-32 (31.3%) shooting from three-point range. 

American International scored the first six points of the contest, before Franklin Pierce got on the board with a Varanauskas free-throw 4:29 in. AIC led by 11 (20-9) after two Wallace free-throws midway through the half, but Franklin Pierce reeled off eight-straight points, sparked by three's from Shepherd and junior Marcus Wellman (Monroe, Conn./Hamden Hall) to draw within three with 9:47 left.

Franklin Pierce forced a 27-27 tie with a Manchester three with 4:32 left in the first half. AIC regained a seven-point advantage (34-27) with a Hynes-Guery free-throw with 31-seconds to go, but Shepherd drained a three at the buzzer to put the Ravens within four (34-30) at the break.

AIC quickly pushed the lead back up to eight (38-30) after two Wallace free-throws 1:19 into the second half. Franklin Pierce drew back within four (43-38) after a Manchester three with 14:46 to play, but a Wallace layup had the Yellow Jackets back up 11 (51-40) with 9:10 remaining.

Franklin Pierce got back within seven three more times, but could get no closer as AIC hit 16-of-20 (80%) free-throws in the second half, including 11-of-13 over the final five minutes to seal the victory. 

Franklin Pierce (4-4, 1-3 NE-10) returns to action on Thursday when it visits Conference leaders Saint Anselm College at 7:30 p.m. The Ravens return home on Monday, December 22, to host Merrimack College at 3 p.m. American International (6-3, 4-3 NE-10) hosts Dowling College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.