MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 17, 2016) -- Junior guard Donte Gittens' (Hartford, Conn.) double-double was not enough for the Franklin Pierce University men's basketball team to push past Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday night at the SNHU Fieldhouse. Despite his scoring 15 points and collecting 11 rebounds, the Ravens were unable to walk away with a road victory, after the Penmen posted an 89-75 win.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 14-10 (11-8 Northeast-10), while Southern New Hampshire University advances to 17-9 (13-6 Northeast-10).

Gittens opened the beginning of the game with a layup to put the Ravens ahead, 2-0. The basket was answered immediately by the Penmen, when junior guard Rodney Sanders shot a jumper to tie the game. Moments later, Penmen junior forward BJ Cardarelli scored a layup and was fouled on the play. After he completed the three-point play, the Penmen were up 5-2. However, Franklin Pierce would not let Southern New Hampshire get a run going, as sophomore forward Asante Sandiford (Boston, Mass.) scored a layup. With the score now 5-4, SNHU and the Ravens proceeded to go back-and-forth, scoring baskets left and right. Franklin Pierce would stay close to the Penmen with 14:45 left in the half, after sophomore guard Dustin Cole (Standish, Maine) made a three-point jumper to make the score 13-11.

The Penmen answered Cole's three-pointer by going on a 16-10 run to push the lead to 32-21, creating a deficit of 11 points for Franklin Pierce. With 8:28 left in the half, Sandiford scored another layup to make the score 32-23, but SNHU was able to answer on a jumper by sophomore guard Adrian Olivieira. With the score now 34-23 with 7:38 remaining, senior guard Tyler Iacuone (Mahopac, N.Y.) made his first three-point jumper of the game, to pull Franklin Pierce within eight points once again. Iacuone then fouled sophomore forward Chris Walters which sent the latter to the foul line, where he went 2-for-2 on his free throws. With SNHU ahead by 10, sophomore center Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) scored his first basket of the night, a jumper to bring the lead back down to eight.

McDevitt's jumper was answered with a layup made by Walters to make the score 38-28, with 6:37 left in the first half. Gittens scored for the Ravens on their next possession to again cut the lead to eight points, but SNHU would not let the gap shrink further. Sophomore forward David Gilligan made a three-point jumper to push the lead to 11 points and make the score 41-30. Southern New Hampshire would end the half on a 13-8 run over the Ravens to make the halftime score 54-38.

The Penmen would start the second half strong, after Walters made a jump shot to start a 7-0 run for the team. The Ravens scoreless streak ended after almost three minutes, when Cole made a layup to make the score 61-40. Southern New Hampshire would answer Cole's layup with a dunk by Walters to put the Penmen ahead, 63-40. After fouls by Walters and Olivieira, McDevitt and Gittens went to the free throw line where they would go a combined 3-for-4. With about 15 minutes remaining in the game, Franklin Pierce trailed by 20 points (63-43).

For the next nine minutes, the two teams would go back-and-forth, scoring 18 points each to make the score 81-61 with 6:13 left in the game. The Ravens were finally able to cut the deficit to 18 after junior guard Marvilio Berroa (Bronx, N.Y.) made a jump shot to make the score 81-63. McDevitt would score next for the Ravens to close the gap to 16 points. McDevitt's layup would be answered by Walter's second dunk of the night to put the score at 83-65. After Jacquo got fouled with 3:32 left in the game, he was sent to the line where he made one of the two free throws to make the score 83-66.

The Penmen would follow Jacquo's foul shots with their third dunk of the night, this one by freshman guard Daquaise Andrews. Seconds later, he proceeded to foul Sandiford, who made both of his free throws, to make the score 85-68. The two teams went back and forth until there was roughly a minute left in the game, as scoring dried up on both sides. Cole cut the gap to 16 with a three-pointer with 88 seconds to play, and a layup on the final possession from freshman guard David Bradbury (Deep River, Conn.) created the 89-75 final.

Gittens finished with a double-double for the Ravens after scoring 15 points and having 11 rebounds on the night. McDevitt finished with 13 points on the night and six rebounds.

The Penmen had four players finish with double-digit points over the course of the night. Walters had 28 points and Andrews chipped in 19 points, while Cardarelli and Sanders had 10 points each for the night.

The next game for the Ravens will be Saturday, Feb. 20, on the road at Merrimack College. Tip off for the game will be at 3:00 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 men's basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).