Men's Basketball

SAINT MICHAEL'S MEN, FRANKLIN PIERCE EARN WINS AT DOUBLETREE CLASSIC

Monahan, SMC best Mercy, 82-70; Franklin Pierce downs Dowling in opener, 72-59

Boxscore: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2007-08/stats/mbmerstm.htm  

COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College and Franklin Pierce University earned season-opening men's basketball victories on Friday in the first day of the DoubleTree Doc Jacobs Classic at the Ross Sports Center. In the nightcap, the host Purple Knights posted an 82-70 versus Mercy College, and in the opener, Franklin Pierce bested Dowling College, 72-59.

In the second contest, senior Brian Monahan (Kinderhook, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) led six Purple Knights in double figures with a game-high 27 points and 19 rebounds as Saint Michael's held off Mercy for the 999th victory in program history. Monahan shot 12-of-18 from the field as Saint Michael's hit 52 percent of its shots from the floor and outrebounded the Mavericks, 47-30.

Also for the Purple Knights, sophomore Ryan Rodrigues (Acushnet, Mass./New Bedford) recorded 12 points and seven rebounds, while senior James Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael Academy) added 11 points. Junior Mike Iola (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) and freshmen Nate Birr (Burnsville, Minn./Saint Thomas Academy) and Chris Hurley (Watertown, Mass./Boston College HS) all netted 10 points.

For Mercy, senior Chanze Wellington (Spring Valley, N.Y.) record a team-best 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Junior Michael Marin (Flushing, N.Y.) added 20 points and six boards, freshman Jimmy Gunville (Raynham, Mass.) netted 12 points, and senior Keiron Guy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied 10 points and eight rebounds. Mercy committed just five turnovers in the contest, but shot just 37 percent from the field.

In the opener, junior Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y.) led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points as Franklin Pierce collected the season-opening win. Classmate Craig Shepherd (Grantham, N.H.) added 12 points and a game-best 11 rebounds for the Ravens, while sophomore Mike Barrow (Mattapan, Mass.) netted 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting off the bench. Franklin Pierce forced 18 Dowling turnovers, and held the Golden Lions to just 37 percent shooting from the floor.

For Dowling, senior James St. Robert (Copiague, N.Y.) had a game-high 16 points, hitting 7-of-11 shots from the field, and added a team-best seven rebounds. Sophomore David Seagers II (Bronx, N.Y.) chipped in with 12 points and three steals before fouling out, while freshman Mike Hill II (Brooklyn, N.Y.) netted 11 points. The Golden Lions shot just 4-of-20 from 3-point territory.

The DoubleTree Doc Jacobs Classic concludes on Saturday, as Franklin Pierce and Mercy square off at 1 p.m., followed by Saint Michael's and Dowling at 3 p.m. Following the Saint Michael's/Dowling contest, the women's DoubleTree Tip Off Classic commences, as the Franklin Pierce women and Mercy meet at 5 p.m., followed by Saint Michael's and Saint Thomas Aquinas College at 7 p.m.