RINDGE, N.H. (January 31, 2015) – Senior Ryen Vilmont (Philadelphia, Pa.) hit nine three-pointers and grabbed four rebounds while playing all 40 minutes, but the Franklin Pierce University Men's Basketball team came up just short in a 70-69 loss against the LeMoyne College Dolphins at the Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, LeMoyne improves to 13-8 overall (7-7 Northeast-10), while Franklin Pierce drops to 12-8 (7-6 Northeast-10).

LeMoyne entered the locker room at halftime up by three points, after shooting 16-25 from the field (64%), while the Ravens shot only 11-24 (43.8%). However, the Ravens success with the three-pointer kept them in the game. That would also overshadow what would come later in the second half.

The Dolphins would maintain a lead throughout a majority of the second half, as the Ravens were able to keep a margin no larger than nine points behind LeMoyne. That nine point margin came with 5:49 remaining in the second half. That lead began to disappear after back-to-back buckets by sophomore Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.), one of which included a high-flying dunk that electrified the 200 plus attendance in the Fieldhouse.

After a layup by Ryan Romich to put the lead back to seven points for LeMoyne, Vilmont would come down the floor in consecutive possessions and drain two threes, bringing LeMoyne's lead to only one point with two minutes to play.

From there began a trade of free throws between the two squads, each team refusing to miss down the stretch. Finally, after Vilmont sank a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining, LeMoyne inbounded the ball, electing to go with the longball down the floor. The pass would sail long, choraled by Gittens on the end line with three seconds to play. A push up the floor insued, with a heave from halfcourt by Gittens comeing up just a bit long at the buzzer, giving the Dolphins in the win column.

Backing up Vilmont's 33 points would be junior Tyler Iacuone (Mahopac, N.Y.) who put in 10 points. Gittens and freshman Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) each tossed in eight points apiece as well. Gittens was able to flash some generosity, as he led the Ravens with seven assists. Senior Paul Becklens (Boston, Mass.) was just as generous, as he finished with five assists.

For LeMoyne, they rode the success of both Romich and Qwadere Lovell, as each eclipsed 20 points on the game. Romich finished with a team high 24 points on 10-15 shooting, while Lovell displayed the all-around game by finishing with a line of 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals, leading the team in each of those categories other than points.

The Ravens return to the hardwood on this Wednesday, February 4 when they travel to Colchester, Vermont to take on the Saint Michael's College Purple Knights. The Ravens edged out the Purple Knights in their previous meeting this season at the Fieldhouse by a score of 90-56 back on January 7.

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).