RINDGE, N.H. (November 23, 2014) – Senior Ryen Vilmont (Philadelphia, Pa.) lit up the floor from behind the arc on Sunday afternoon, shooting 50 percent by sinking six of five of ten attempts en route to a game-high 22 points as the Franklin Pierce University Ravens defeated the Merrimack College Warriors by a final score of 76-71.

With the win, the Ravens collect their first conference win and improve to 3-2 overall (1-0 Northeast-10), while Merrimack falls to 2-2 overall and still winless in conference play (0-2 Northeast-10).

The game would ultimately fall in the hands of the free throw game, as the lead was changed eleven times and the score would be tied six times. Down the stretch, both teams missed critical free throws, but the Ravens would come up the winner in percentage, going 16 for 19 (84.2 percent) while Merrimack finished 11 for 15 (73.3 percent), with those potential five missed free throws the difference in the game.

Merrimack also converted 34 points in the paint, while Franklin Pierce would also lead the charge in bench points 23-11.

It was a consistent game throughout, as both teams would not hold a lead any higher than nine points. A majority of the second half brought much of the same, until the five minute mark remaining in the game. A three-pointer by Merrimack's J.T. Strickland gave the Warriors the lead 66-64 with 5:19 to play. What ensued however, energized the Ravens and the crowd of 200 plus.

Junior Tyler Iacuone (Mahopac, N.Y.) would convert a layup to tie the game at 66-66, leading to the final tie and lead for Merrimack in the game. After Strickland would miss a layup on the other side of the floor, sophomore Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.) would go coast-to-coast to throw down a dunk that lit up the crowd. That would be all the momentum that the Ravens would need, as Vilmont would knock down two of his six three pointers in back-to-back possessions after the dunk to extend the Ravens lead out to eight points, which was the biggest of the half.

Vilmont would also tack on eight rebounds and a steal to his afternoon resume, while Gittens and senior Paul Becklens (Boston, Mass.) would each knock down 11 points. Iacuone and freshman Dustin Cole (Standish, Maine) would collect nine points apiece. Gittens and Vilmont each stuffed two blocks, while Iacuone and Becklens each swiped two steals. Becklens would also dish out a game-high seven assists.

For Merrimack, Strickland led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, followed by a strong offensive performance from Troy Hammel as he knocked down 17 points on 5 for 15 shooting, including 3 of 10 from behind the arc. James Kennedy would collect 12 points of his own, all in the paint, while grabbing eight rebounds. Foul-riddled Gelvis Solano also had 12 points, and collected nine rebounds and four assists while collecting four fouls along the way, reducing the Merrimack star to 29 minutes.

The Ravens next game has them traveling to Stonehill on Tuesday, November 25 to take on the Skyhawks at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).