Men’s Basketball falls short of major comeback, fall to Adelphi

RINDGE, N.H. (January 6, 2016) – With 12:33 to play in the game, the Franklin Pierce University Ravens Men's Basketball team trailed the Adelphi University Panthers by 23 points at the Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. The Ravens used the whole 12:33 remaining to pull of an incredible 25-4 run over the remaining time, leading to a chance to win the game with seven seconds to go. But junior Matt Banton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) saw his shot rumble around the rim and out, falling short of a historic comeback and giving Adelphi 62-58 win.

With the loss, the Ravens drop to 7-6 overall, and fall to .500 in conference play at 4-4. With the win, Adelphi avoids a blow to their record, and improve to 13-2 overall and 5-2 in Northeast-10 Conference play.

The first half started slow for both sides, with Franklin Pierce holding a lead through a majority of the first half. Junior Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.) got the ball rolling with a three-pointer to start off the scoring, giving Franklin Pierce a 3-0 lead. Adelphi fought their way back and finally took a slight one point lead at 14:11 to play in the first half, after Tayvon Ginyard notched a layup for a 9-8 Panthers lead.

The Ravens then put together a solid 7-0 run after the quick Adelphi lead, grabbing a 15-9 lead with 10:59 to play. That's when things went south for the Ravens, as the Panthers finally woke up and posted a 26-6 run to close out the first half. The teams went into the locker room at half with the score standing at 35-21, a 14-point advantage in favor of Adelphi.

Franklin Pierce provided a spark at the start of the second half, once again grabbing a small run of 8-0 to begin the half. With the Adelphi lead now at six points with 17:07 to play, Adelphi then turned in a run of their own in response. The Panthers really opened the game, putting up a 21-4 run that featured four three-pointers and giving Adelphi a 56-33 lead with 12:33 to play.

That's when the game took a turn for the crazy, as Adelphi found that 23-point lead disappear over the remaining time. It all began with a jumper from junior Tyler Iacuone (Mahopac, N.Y.), followed by a pair of free throws by sophomore Asante Sandiford (Boston, Mass.). Iacuone then hit a layup, and sophomore Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) adding a jumper of his own to bring the lead down to 15 points with 9:01 to play.

Neither team would collect any points until the 6:38 mark, when Banton hit two free throws to bring the lead to 13. Iacuone and Sandiford would combine for a pair of layups to bring the lead to single digits, 56-47 with 5:05 to play. Adelphi guard Anthony Libroia would spoil the single digit lead for now, sending the Panther lead back to 11 points, a 58-47 score with 3:48 to play.

As it seemed the Ravens might have been stopped in their tracks, they kept trucking ahead. Gittens responded with a layup, bringing the lead back to nine points with 2:38 to play. After a turnover by Libroia, Banton was fouled in the following possession, sending him to the line for three shots. He would sink all three free throws, now making it only a two possession game, a six point lead at 58-52 with 1:56 to play.

Junior Marvilio Berroa (Bronx, N.Y.) forced a steal in the next Adelphi possession, allowing the Ravens a chance to pull within a single possession. They did just that, as Gittens keyed up from the corner and knocked down a triple to pull within three points, 58-55 score with 1:21 to play.

The Panthers would catch a break at the other end of the floor, as Iacuone would foul Ginyard going to the hoop, putting him at the line for two free throws. Ginyard would hit both, giving the Panthers a five point lead at 60-55 with 50 seconds to play.

Franklin Pierce would push the floor after the free throws, and after some ball movement, McDevitt would get a wide open look for the Ravens and knock it down, pulling the score to 60-58 with only 39 seconds to go.

With the scenario set, the Ravens needed to get a stop at the other end to have a chance to either tie or win the game. Things seemed to fall in place, as Ginyard would dirve and miss a layup for Adelphi with Berroa grabbing the rebound for Franklin Pierce.

With the shot clock off, the Ravens could set up for whichever shot they chose to go with. With seven seconds on the clock, Banton would find an open look off a screen for the wing. However, the ball would only dance around the cylinder before deciding not to go in. Michael Coffey would grab the rebound for Adelphi, and would immediately get fouled and tack on two free throws for the four point Adelphi win, 62-58.

Both Gittens and Sandiford led the team with 12 total points on the night, with Iacuone posting a close 11 as well. Sandiford, Gittens, and McDevitt each collected eight rebounds as well in the effort, while Gittens also notched three assists and blocks. As a team on the night, the Ravens shot a rough 32.3 percent from the floor, only converting 16.2 percent (6-for-37) from behind the three-point arc.

For Adelphi, Libroia and Ginyard would collect 13 points apiece, while Ryan DeNicola would find his way to 11 points and Manny Suarez to 10. Coffey would lead the team with 11 rebounds. The Panthers were just as rough from the field, converting at a 37.9 percent clip from the floor and only 28.6 (8-for-28) from distance.

The Ravens return to the hardwood in one week on Wednesday, January 13 when they travel to Springfield, Mass. to take on American International College. Tip-off is set for 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).