Men's Basketball

February 19, 2008

Men's Basketball Drops Third Straight To Franklin Pierce, 74-71


COLCHESTER, Vt.- As a Brian Monahan three-pointer went begging at the buzzer in an attempt to force overtime, the Saint Michael's men's basketball team (7-17, 5-15 NE-10) dropped their third straight contest versus Franklin Pierce (9-16, 5-15 NE-10), 74-71, Tuesday evening at the Ross Sports Center in Colchester. Junior Jon Zylstra (Uxbridge, Mass./Whitinsville Christian) led the Purple Knights on 7-of-8 shooting for a game-high 19 points in the loss.

Helping the Ravens dominate the Purple Knights on the glass, 48-34, junior Rimas Varanauska (Kaunus, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) grabbed 12 boards, including six on the offensive end, along with 11 points on the night. Sophomore forward Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) came off the bench for Franklin Pierce to score a team-high 17 points on 8-of-13 from the field in just 19 minutes of play.

For the Purple Knights, Zylstra was joined by three others in double-figures, as Saint Michael's had only five players in the scoring column. Senior co-captain James Sorrentine tallied 16 points while freshman Nate Birr added 15 points, seven boards and and six assists.

Virtually dead-locked with Franklin Pierce in every statistical category with the exception of rebounding, the Purple Knights were out-rebounded for the fifth-straight game as part of dropping 16 of the last 17 outings.

The men continue their home stand against No. 1-nationally ranked Bentley College on Saturday, February 23 at 3:30 p.m. following the women's contest at 1:30 p.m.

###PURPLE KNIGHTS