NEW HAVEN, Conn. (2/28/25) - The Franklin Pierce men's basketball team battled hard but came up short in the opening round of the NE10 Tournament, falling 85-76 to Southern Connecticut State on Friday night. With the loss, the Ravens' season comes to an end, while the Owls advance to the NE10 Quarterfinals.

Score: SCSU 85, FPU 76 
Records: SCSU (17-10, 12-8 NE10), FPU (3-26, 2-18 NE10) 
Location: James W. Moore Fieldhouse, New Haven, CT
Date: Friday, February 28, 2025 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Franklin Pierce started slowly as Southern Connecticut jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the opening minutes. However, the Ravens found their rhythm midway through the first half, putting together a 20-10 run to cut the deficit to just one at 27-26. The Owls managed to maintain a slim advantage, taking a 35-31 lead into the halftime break.

• The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with Franklin Pierce staying within striking distance. A 9-2 run midway through the half brought the Ravens level at 49-49, and a clutch stretch from Hall gave Franklin Pierce a brief 67-66 lead with just over five minutes to play. However, Southern Connecticut responded with a decisive 19-9 run in the closing minutes, securing the victory.

• While Hall led the offensive charge, Franklin Pierce also saw strong contributions from Jayden Thompson, who finished with 17 points, and Malik Johnson, who recorded 12 points and seven rebounds. The Ravens shot 44% from the field and 33% from three-point range but struggled to slow down Southern Connecticut's Albert Vargas, who posted a game-high 32 points, including 28 in the second half. 

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: With the loss, Franklin Pierce concludes the season with a hard-fought effort and will look to build on this experience for the future.