MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 2, 2022) – The Franklin Pierce University men's basketball team jumped out to an early 12-point lead on Wednesday night at Southern New Hampshire, but it was all downhill from there. The home-standing Penmen turned the deficit into a dozen-point lead of their own by halftime and blew the doors off in the second half, on the way to an 85-59 Northeast-10 Conference victory in the Stan Spirou Field House. Juniors Isaiah Moore (Temple Hills, Md.) and Maxwell Zegarowski (South Hamilton, Mass.) led Franklin Pierce with 19 points apiece in the loss, while sophomore Matt Becht chalked up a game-high 23 to lead four SNHU players in double digits.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 10-6 (7-4 NE10), while SNHU improves to 11-6 (7-2 NE10). The two teams split the season series, as the Ravens scored an 87-83, overtime win at home over the Penmen back in early-December.

In the early minutes of the first half, the Ravens jumped to a quick 22-10 lead, thanks to nine early points from Zegarowski. The Penmen took the lead, 27-26, less than four minutes later, thanks to a 17-4 run, keyed by 12 points from sophomore Noah Kamba. The Penmen never looked back from there, and they led 42-30 at halftime. 

SNHU continued to dominate the Ravens in the second half, and the visitors were left with no answer. The Penmen put together a 12-4 run to start the half, which ballooned the halftime lead to 20 points, on the way to the eventual 26-point victory.

The Ravens shot 36.8% from the field (21-for-57) and 28% from the three-point line (7-for-25). Meanwhile, the red-hot Penmen hit at 50.7% from the field (34-for-67), which included an even 50% from long distance (12-for-24). SNHU grabbed 41 total rebounds, to just 28 for Franklin Pierce, and forced the Ravens into 17 turnovers on the night.

Moore and Zegarowski combined for 38 points in defeat, with their 19 apiece. The latter tied for the team lead with six rebounds, while Moore had four rebounds, three assists and three steals, but also uncharacteristically committed a career-high eight turnovers.

For the Penmen, it was four players in double digits. Becht led all scorers with 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting. Kamba added another 17 points off the bench, while senior Corry Long contributed 14 points and junior Jackson Jordan chipped in 12 more. Becht narrowly missed a double-double with eight rebounds, while Long snagged six boards and tallied four steals.

The Ravens are off for the weekend, but back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 8, when they travel to Stonehill for an NE10 contest at 7:30 p.m. in Easton, Mass.