Franklin Pierce Edges Men's Basketball, 102-97 (OT)

Highlights & Postgame Interview to Follow

Logan posted his fourth double-double of the year with a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Banton's 38 points leads Ravens to key NE10 win

EASTON, Mass. (February 4, 2017) – Franklin Pierce University held Stonehill College to 38-percent shooting in the second half to claim a 102-97 overtime victory in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action as part of Alumni Weekend festivities at the College on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Senior guard Matt Banton (Brooklyn, New York/Transit Tech) led Franklin Pierce with a game-high 38 points on 14-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5-for-8 from three-point distance, while converting 5-of-8 free-throws to go with seven rebounds, two assists, a blocked shot and steal. Junior Jordan Lackey (South Plainfield, New Jersey/Piscataway Tech) added 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting, five rebounds and three assists, while classmate Asante Sandiford (Boston, Massachusetts/New Mission) tallied 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting and six boards. Junior Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) hauled in a team-high ten rebounds to go with eight points and three blocked shots.

Senior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) posted his fourth double-double of the season (24th career) to lead Stonehill as he netted a season-high 27 points and snared a game-high 11 rebounds. He now sits eight points behind Stonehill Hall of Famer Mike Barros '88 (1,679 points) for fifth place on the program's career scoring list with 1,671 points in 110 career games played. Freshman Daniel Largey (Oceanport, New Jersey/Peddie School) added 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 2-for-6 from beyond the arc, with two rebounds and two steals, while junior Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) posted 13 points, eight boards and three steals.

Franklin Pierce shot 53.2-percent from the field (41-for-77) for the afternoon, connecting on 6-of-17 (35.3%) three-pointers and making 14-of-19 free-throws (73.7%) in the win. The Ravens also held a 49-45 rebounding edge. Stonehill was limited to 42.5-percent shooting, including 37.5% (18-48) after halftime, shooting 5-for-22 (22.7%) from beyond the arc, and converting 18-of-26 (69.2%) free-throws.


Largey added 23 points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Neither team led by more than eight points all afternoon in the back and forth matchup, with Franklin Pierce holding that margin (88-80) with 1:13 remaining before Stonehill rallied to force overtime. The Ravens missed 4-of-5 free-throws in the closing 54-seconds to open the door for the Skyhawks comeback, which was capped by a layup from junior KJ Lee (Huntington Station, New York/Long Island Lutheran) with 8.7-seconds to play.

Stonehill forced a turnover to get a shot at the win, but Lee was called for traveling, marking his first turnover in three games, with two seconds to go and senior Donte Gittens (Hartford, Connecticut/The Master's School) had a desperation heave from midcourt rim out that sent the game to overtime.

Stonehill, which had won four straight overtime contest dating back to last season after Wednesday's 108-101 triumph at Bentley University, saw that streak come to a close with 4-for-11 shooting over the five minutes, including 0-for-5 from deep. Senior Marvilio Berroa (Bronx, New York/Wings Academy) opened the extra session with a three-point play and then Banton gave the Ravens a two-possession lead (95-91) after a triple 1:03 in. Logan pulled the Skyhawks back within two twice, but a pair of missed threes in the closing 22-seconds and three free-throws from the visitors sewed the game up.

Stonehill (12-10, 7-9 NE10) hits the road for a key NE10 battle with Merrimack College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Wednesday, February 15, to host Saint Anselm College at 7:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (11-11, 8-8 NE10) hosts Saint Michael's College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.