Cosgrove nets 18 to lead Panthers, including 16 after halftime

Boxscore 

RINDGE, N.H. (January 3, 2009) - Adelphi University held Franklin Pierce to just four points in overtime to collect a 67-63 victory in non-conference men's basketball action at the Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Junior guard Casey Cosgrove (Andover, Mass./Andover) scored 16 of his team-high 18 points after halftime, including three points in overtime, to lead Adelphi as he hit 5-of-9 shots from the field, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, and converted 4-of-7 free-throws. He also added four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Richard Byrd (Central Islip, N.Y./Copaigue) added 11 points and two blocked shots, while classmate David Akinyooye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) posted ten points, draining all four free-throw attempts, five rebounds and three steals. Senior Sky Khaleel (Queens, N.Y./Benjamin Cardozo) chipped in ten points, two blocks and two steals.

Junior Marcus Wellman (Monroe, Conn./Hamden Hall) led Franklin Pierce with a game and season-high 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, to go with four rebounds. Sophomore Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) added 15 points, hitting 3-of-5 three's, a game-high seven rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals, while junior Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) finished with 12 points and five boards (four offensive). Junior Jack Barrett (Reading, Mass./Andover) chipped in ten points, eight assists and four rebounds.

Adelphi shot 45.5-percent (23-for-51) from the field, while Franklin Pierce made just 39.6% (21-53) of its shots - 52.4% (11-21) in the second half. The Ravens posted a 42-26 rebounding advantage, but turned the ball over 22 times compared to 15 for the Panthers.

Freshman Robert Johnson (New Rochelle, N.Y./Tuckahoe) drained a three-pointer off a Franklin Pierce turnover 1:05 into the extra period and Adelphi never trailed the rest of the way, scoring the first six points as Franklin Pierce missed its first six shots of the frame, including two free-throws.

Dozier canned a three-pointer with 26-seconds left in regulation to give Franklin Pierce a two-point lead (59-57) in a second half that featured five ties and nine lead changes. Adelphi answered with a Byrd lay-up with three-seconds to go and the Ravens had an open look at the buzzer, but Barrett's runner fell off the mark. 

Adelphi held the game's largest lead with a nine-point cushion (36-27) after an Akinyooye lay-up to cap an 8-1 run over the opening 3:54 of the second half. Wellman hit a three to pull Franklin Pierce back within a point (40-39) with 12:27 to play, then his three at the 10:30-mark put the Ravens in front (44-42) for the first time since the opening minute of the first half. Neither team led by more than two points until Cosgrove hit a free-throw with 43-seconds left in overtime to put the Panthers up four (63-59).

Franklin Pierce (4-6, 1-4 NE-10) returns to Northeast-10 play on Tuesday when it visits Saint Michael's College at 7:30 p.m. The Ravens return home on Thursday to host Pace University at 7:30 p.m. Adelphi (6-4, 1-0 ECC) hosts Philadelphia University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.