SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 5, 2021) – Maxwell Zegarowski (South Hamilton, Mass.) poured in a game-high 19 points as the Franklin Pierce University men's basketball program lost their first game since March 4, 2020, falling by a 88-78 score to American International College Friday night at the Henry A. Butova Gymnasium. The win pushes the Yellow Jackets record to 2-6 while the Ravens move to 0-1 with the setback.

Zegarowski was 5-of-11 (45.4%) from the floor and 3-of-5 (60%) from distance to go along with a game-high nine rebounds with five coming on the offensive end. He was joined in double-figures by Mohamed Traore (Hyde Park, Mass.) who tallied 12 points in his first collegiate action. Sam van Oostrum (Sheffield, England) dished out a team-high four dimes for Pierce.

For the Yellow Jackets, Walter Covington produced a season-high 19 markers of his own off a 6-of-10 (60%) shooting performance. Starting guard Shyheim Hicks dropped 17 markers and Xion Golding added 14 points and five caroms.

Franklin Pierce was understandably rusty after not playing in just a smidge over a year converting only 6-of-33 (18.2%) of their three-point attempts. They manhandled AIC on the offensive glass securing 16 boards to their counterparts six. FPU notched 12 points off their second chances.

The game was tied 3-3 and Pierce went on their largest run of the contest putting home seven straight points to lead by their biggest margin 10-3 as Matt Hofrenning (Minneapolis, Minn.) put home two post chances and Zegarowski buried a three-pointer. Both teams traded points and possessions until a Jordan Vidal three-ball, a Donovan Miller deuce and a Golding fast-break layup put the hosts ahead 24-23 with 7:19 left in the half.

FPU's edge grew back to two possessions 37-32 due to a Zegarowski fast break triple with 2:48 to go. AIC closed the half on a 10-4 spurt thanks to a Golding slam dunk to lead 42-41 at the intermission.

AIC came out of the locker room on fire going on a 22-8 scoring stretch that covered the first nine minutes of the second half to expand their lead to a game-high 15 points, 64-49 thanks to their three-point attack banging in five three-pointers during their point barrage.

Pierce continued to chip away at the deficit bringing it down to eight, 68-60 due to a Hofrenning lay-in at the 7:24 mark. AIC upped their margin back to double-figures, but FPU did not waver pulling within five, 78-73 via a Zegarowski three-pointer with 2:54 to go. Pierce couldn't get a stop on the other end and AIC closed the game out with four in a row.

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/).