BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (December 21, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University men's basketball team three-game winning streak came to an end Saturday afternoon after a 78-68 defeat to non-conference opponent Bloomfield College during the opening day of the CACC/NE10 Crossover Classic. The win sends Bears to 6-5 overall while the loss drops Pierce to 6-4.

Senior team captain Doyin Fadojutimi (Temple Hills, Md.) led the charge for the Ravens with a team-high 18 points with five rebounds, a team-high three blocks, and two steals. Freshman forward Antonio Chandler (Piscataway, N.J.) came off the bench to score a career-high 11 markers shooting an efficient 5-of-7 (71.4%) from the hardwood. Sean Fasoyiro (Houston, Texas) matched his teammate in double-digits with 11 points of his own while he snared five caroms. Isaiah Moore (Temple Hills, Md.) was the leading rebounder from the crimson and grey as he totaled eight boards – three offensive. Sam van Oostrum (Sheffield, England) dished out a team-high four dimes in 15 minutes off the bench.

For the hosts, Safee Abdus-Sabur recorded a game-high 19 points on 7-of-13 (53.8%) shooting with eight boards, two assists, and two steals. Tariq McKenith stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, and a team-high five assists. Matt Lajeunesse was three points shy of a double-double with seven markers, a game-best 14 rebounds, and four blocks.

Both teams struggled from distance in this one, but Bloomfield (6-of-24, 25%) made two more three-pointers than the Ravens (4-of-24, 16.7%). Pierce out produced their opponents in the paint 42-to-32, but the Bears outrebounded FPU (50-to-44) and scored more second-chance points (10-to-4).

The Ravens built an early 10-0 lead three minutes into the game using four points from Fadojutimi, a three and one of two at the line. A McKenith jumper at the 8:55 mark pulled the hosts within two possessions, 14-9. A few possessions later, Chandler banged home a dunk to widen the gap to eight 24-16 with 5:30 to go. An 11-1 run by Bloomfield put them ahead briefly 27-25 as both teams traded points over the final minute to push the Bears up two, 31-29 at the break.

Falu Seck (Washington, D.C.) kick-started the second half with a triple 30 seconds in to move Pierce back ahead 32-31. Fadojutimi added to the advantage with a steal to coast to coast layup on the ensuing defensive possession. Seven consecutive points by the home team catapulted them back in front 38-34 with 16:43 to go. The game of runs continued when Chandler capped off an 11-2 Raven spurt with a trifecta to up the score to 45-40 in favor of FPU. Nine in a row from Bloomfield reestablished a two-possession lead for them at 49-45.

The squads were trading blows back and forth when two Fadojutimi freebies with 4:44 to go made it a 63-60 battle. A 7-0 run from the hosts including an Abdus-Sabur hoop and harm grew the margin to 10, 70-60. One last Raven charge dropped it to a six-point game with 49 seconds left however they could not get a stop.

Franklin Pierce returns to action tomorrow when they play Felician University on the road at 1:00 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://www.fpuravens.com). 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 (https://shopfpuravens.com). You can also follow the men's basketball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensMBB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpuravensmbb/).