Franklin Pierce defeats Greyhounds men's basketball, 79-68, in Northeast-10 Conference action

January 20, 2009

Franklin Pierce 79, Assumption 68

RINDGE, NH --- Franklin Pierce led by senior RIMAS VARANAUSKAS (Kaunas, Lithuania/Winchendon School) with a game-high 25 points earned a 79-68 victory over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action here TUESDAY night.

Varanauskas scored 14 of his points in the first half and finished with seven-of-16 shooting from the field, including two-for-three from three-point range, converting nine-of-13 free-throws, to go with six rebounds and two blocked shots in 27 minutes.

Sophomore forward JEFF MANCHESTER (Gorham, ME/Gorham) added 15 points, with five-of-10 three-pointers, and a career-best nine rebounds, while junior guard MARCUS WELLMAN (Monroe, CT/Hamden Hall) had 11 points and sophomore guard KINARD DOZIER (Dedham, MA/Winchendon School) chipped in with 10 points, all in the second half.

Junior guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Fort Washington, MD/Saint Vincent Pallotti) led Assumption with 19 points as he made six-of-13 shots from the field, including four-of-seven three-pointers, and converted three-of-four free-throws to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes off-the-bench.

Senior guard/captain PATRICK SHEA (Salem, MA/Salem) notched a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, adding five assists. Sophomore forward MIKE BALDARELLI (Sutton, MA/Holy Name) chipped in 12 points, draining four-of-five three-pointers, and six rebounds.

Franklin Pierce used a 15-2 run midway through the second half to answer an Assumption surge to open the half and regain control of the game that the Ravens led by 11 (36-25) at halftime. The Greyhounds quickly drew within three (36-33) 3:17 into the second half as Baldarelli sandwiched a dunk by sophomore SAVOY FRAINE (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills) with a pair of three-pointers.

Assumption is now 11-6 overall and 9-4 in the conference and opens a three-game homestand Saturday with Le Moyne College at 3:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (9-7 and 6-5) is back in action Saturday when it visits UMass Lowell at 4 p.m.

Click here for ASSUMPTION-FRANKLIN PIERCE box score