Nationally-ranked Skyhawks salvage split of home-and-home series with Ravens

Boxscore 

RINDGE, N.H. (February 4, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University fell just shy of sweeping a home-and-home series with nationally-ranked Stonehill College, dropping a 59-56 decision to the No. 24-ranked Skyhawks, ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight.

Franklin Pierce, which upset then 10^th-ranked Stonehill, 60-59, in Easton, Mass., on Saturday, led by a point (56-55) after a Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) lay in with 2:29 left in regulation, but the Ravens wouldn't score again as the Skyhawks scored the last four points of the contest to avoid the series sweep.

Junior A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) led Stonehill with 16 points, aided by 10-of-13 shooting at the free-throw line, to go with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Classmate Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) added 14 points and two assists, while sophomore Dan Heppert (Richmond, Va./Benedictine) contributed nine points and five rebounds off the bench. Senior Matt Hall (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central) chipped in nine points, four rebounds and three assists.

Sophomore Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) led Franklin Pierce with a game-high 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, including 4-for-6 from three-point range, to go with seven rebounds and two steals. Senior Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) added 13 points, eight rebounds (five offensive), four assists and two steals off the bench, while Ray finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, to go with four rebounds and two blocked shots. 

Franklin Pierce finished shooting 39.6-percent (19-for-48) from the field, after hitting at 45.5% (10-for-22) in the first half, but made just 7-of-22 (31.8%) three-pointers and only 11-of-17 (64.7%) free-throw attempts. Stonehill shot 38.6-percent (17-for-44) from the field, including 40% (4-10) from beyond the arc, but converted 21-of-25 (84%) free-throw attempts. The Skyhawks also enjoyed a 34-28 rebounding advantage.

Dozier made one of two free-throws to put Franklin Pierce up a point (50-49) with 5:24 to play in regulation. Stonehill looked to take control, using a 6-1 spurt over the next two minutes to take a four-point lead (55-51) with all six points coming from the free-throw line. Back-to-back lay-up by Ray helped the Ravens regain the lead (56-55) with 2:29 to go, but Stallworth scored a lay-up to put the Skyhawks back in front (57-56) with 1:30 to play while Franklin Pierce missed its last two shots, including a three-pointer at the buzzer, and turned the ball over on another possession to stall the upset bid. 

Stonehill certainly looked to have payback on its minds for Saturday's one-point loss in its own gym, jumping out to a 13-point lead (25-12) after a Stallworth three with 8:25 left in the first half. The three capped a 19-7 run over an eight minute stretch. However, Franklin Pierce closed the half with a 13-3 run to cut the lead to just three (28-25) at halftime. Ray had four points and Dozier seven, including a three-pointer, during the closing stretch.

Stonehill regained a six-point lead (33-27) after a Hall three 2:28 into the second half, when Franklin Pierce got back-to-back three's from Dozier and junior Jack Barrett (Reading, Mass./Andover) to draw even (33-33) with 16:17 to play. The Ravens went on to grab a five-point lead (41-36) as part of an overall 14-3 run after a Dozier jumper with 12:39 left. The Skyhawks scored the next seven points to retake the lead (43-41) after a Hall lay-up and Heppert free-throw with 9:23 remaining setting up a see-saw battle the rest of the way.

Franklin Pierce (10-11, 7-9 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts No. 23 Bentley University at 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on WEEI 93.5 FM Keene. Stonehill (17-4, 12-4 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.