GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (January 4, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University men's basketball team returned to Northeast-10 Conference action with a bang as they upended Adelphi University 101-79 on Wednesday evening. The victory, the Ravens seventh in their last eight games and their fifth straight conference win, improves their record to 9-5 overall and 6-2 NE10 and the loss drops the host Panthers to 11-4, 4-3 NE10.

As a team, the Ravens set their season high watermark in points (101), shooting percentage (42-of-69, 60.9%) and steals (11). The last time FPU tallied 100 or more points in a contest was on November 23, 2013 when they racked up 111 points in a 111-80 victory at NE10 foe Merrimack.

Team captain Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.) had an all-around game scoring 19 points, dishing out a game-high seven assists, grabbing five rebounds and coming up with three thefts. Newcomer Oladoyin Fadojutimi (Temple Hills, Md.) recorded his best collegiate game in his last contest versus LIU Post on New Year's Eve and followed that up with an even stronger performance as he tallied career-highs in points (20), rebounds (six) and steals (four). Fadojutimi was also automatic from the hardwood as he knocked down 7-of-8 (87.5%) of his field goal attempts in 24 minutes off the bench.

Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) added 18 points, three boards and a game-high three blocks. Matt Banton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) racked up 16 points on a 4-of-6 (66.7%) showing from deep to go along with four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Asante Sandiford (Boston, Mass.) tallied 12 points, six boards, three assists and a steal while Jordan Lackey (South Plainfield, N.J.) scored eight points in 13 minutes of play.

Three starters scored in double figures for the Panthers as Manny Suarez poured in a game-best 28 points and was a perfect 13-of-13 from the charity stripe. Austin Beech played all 40 minutes and added 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a stuff. Michael Coffey racked up 13 markers and three boards.

Franklin Pierce barley won the turnover battle over Adelphi (15-to-17), but capitalized on their opponents miscues scoring 25 points off the 17 Panther mistakes. The Ravens also held a 36 point lead, the highest advantage in the contest by any team with 5:12 left in the second half.

The hosts tallied five points over the first 38 seconds of the contest on a Manny Suarez layup and a Jack Laffey three-pointer which led to an early Raven timeout. The stoppage worked in favor of the Ravens as they scored six straight points as Gittens threw down a slam for FPU's first points, McDevitt converted a layup and another Gittens jam, this one off a steal and a coast to coast drive to put FPU ahead 6-5.

A few possessions later, Laffey knocked down another shot from long range as Adelphi regained the lead at 8-6. That was the last time the hosts would hold onto the lead as FPU embarked on a game-changing 16-0 run using three three-pointers by Banton to take a 22-8 advantage which led to a 30 second Adelphi timeout.

Beech brought his team back within single figures as he drove the lane for the hoop and harm and made the free throw to put his squad down eight 31-23 with 7:15 left before the half. Point trading continued until a 12-2 Raven binge to end the half gave the guests an 18 point, 50-32 lead at the contests midway point.

The second stanza started off like the beginning of the first half as the Panthers scored six straight points to cut the deficit to 12, 50-38. That's the closest they would come in the second half as Sandiford and Gittens connected on an alley-oop dunk which was the springboard to a 10-2 run that put Pierce up 20, 60-40.

Holding a 23 point lead, the Ravens continued to add on with a 16-3 binge that was capped off by a Banton layup to put FPU ahead 93-57. With 2:39 to go, Lolami Charles (Edgewood, Md.) buried a mid-range jumper from the right side to give FPU 101 points as they led 101-65. Over the next few minutes, Adelphi scored 14 straight as they fell 101-79.

The Ravens return home to Rindge next Wednesday, January 11th when they host NE10 rival American International 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 men's basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).