PHILADEPHIA (November 13, 2021) –– Junior Isaiah Moore (Temple Hills, Md.) opened his season with a career-best 31 points on Saturday, but the Franklin Pierce University men's basketball team was defeated by Holy Family, 91-84, in neutral-site, non-conference play at Jefferson's Gallagher Center. The contest was the season opener for both teams.

Franklin Pierce opens its season at 0-1, while Holy Family improves to 1-0. The Ravens will wrap up their opening weekend with a noon game against Jefferson on Saturday at the Gallagher Center.

Franklin Pierce shot 41.4% from the field (29-for-70) in the losing effort. A slow first half did not help the Ravens, who trailed 51-40 at the break. They would get as close as three points (83-80) late in the second half, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Meanwhile, Holy Family shot 53.2% from the field (33-for-62) and connected on 17 three-pointers (17-for-32). The Tigers were 8-for-12 from the free-throw line, but also had 15 turnovers in this game, which allowed the Ravens a road back into things in the second half. Franklin Pierce connected on 12 three-pointers (12-for-36), and went 14-for-19 from the free-throw line. 

Moore came out buzzing, as he scored 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting in 17 minutes in the first half. Junior Maxwell Zegarowski (South Hamilton, Mass.) added nine points on 2-for-6 from the field. The rest of the Ravens combined to shoot just 7-for-22 in the opening stanza, as Holy Family opened up the 11-point halftime lead.

Holy Family junior guard Kharon Randolph scored 16 points in the first half on 5-for-8 shooting. Freshman guard Manny Toha added 17 points in 19 minutes on 7-for-8 from the floor, as the duo combined for 12 buckets on 16 attempts in the first half.

Moore added 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting in the second half, on his way to a new career high with 31 points. Junior Brandon Kolek (Hyde Park, Mass.) scored 20 points off the bench in the game. Freshman Mohamed Traore (Hyde Park, Mass.) finished in double figures as well, with 11 points. Moore narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds, while Kolek dished out five assists.

For Holy Family, Toha led the way in the second half, as he added 13 more points on 5-for-11 shooting to finish off a 30-point day of his own. He was joined in double digits by Randolph, with 24 points, and junior Eric Esposito, with 16.