MEN'S BASKETBALL EDGES OUT FRANKLIN PIERCE, 77-72
RINDGE, NH - The Pace University men's basketball team defeated the Ravens of Franklin Pierce University, 77-72, in a Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball match earlier today at the Fieldhouse in Rindge, NH. With the win the Setters improve to 2-3 on the season and 2-1 in the NE-10, while the Ravens fall to 2-3 overall, 0-3 in conference play.
The Setters were led by a trio of seniors as Gibraltar White (Gautier, MS/Gautier) led the Pace offense scoring a game-high 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field, including going 3-for-5 from three and 2-for-2 from the line. Desmond Quincy-Jones (Rye, NY/Rye) recorded a double-double with 18 points and a game-best 14 rebounds (six offensive), while Ryan Williams (Centreville, VA/Paul VI) added 14 points. Junior Randy Wilson (Peekskill, NY/Peekskill) was the fourth Setter in double figures with 11 points to go along with seven rebounds. Sophomore Carlos Howard (Fort Washington, MD/Gonzaga College High) dished out a team-high four assists. The Setters shot 43.1% (25-for-58) from the field, including 34.8% (8-for-23) from beyond the arc and 67.9% (19-for-28) from the free throw line. Pace also held the rebounding edge 41-36.
Timothy Munch and Kinard Dozier each scored 15 points apiece to lead the Ravens offense. Dozier also added a team-high seven rebounds. Rimas Varanauskas contributed with 13 points, while Marcus Wellman chipped in with 11 points, to go along with a game-high six assists. The Ravens shot 41.9% (26-for-62) from the field, but were held to 20.0% (4-for-20) from three by the stingy Setters defense. Franklin Pierce was 16-for-24 (66.7%) from the line for the night.
The Setters took the lead from the tip and never looked back as Pace never trailed in the game. The closest that Franklin Pierce came to taking a lead was at the 4:39 mark of the second half as a pair of free throws from Steve Ramos tied the game for the first time at 67. Down by 13, 65-52, with 8:57 remaining in the game, the Ravens went on a 15-2 run, capped off by Ramos' free throws, to erase the deficit. The Setters would untie the game in their next possession on a lay up by Wilson as Pace would outscore Franklin Pierce 10-5 after being tied at 67 to hold off the Ravens for the 77-72 victory.
Pace maintained a slim lead throughout the beginning of the first half before utilizing a 12-0 run to take a 14-point lead, 27-13, with 7:17 remaining in the half. White led the run scoring seven of the 12 points. The Setters would increase their lead by as many as 15, their largest of the game, on two different occasions before taking a 10-point lead into the break, 41-31.
Pace returns to action this Saturday, December 1st,
as the Setters will square off against the Penmen of Southern New
Hampshire University in a Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball
match. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 pm at the Goldstein Health,
Fitness & Recreation Center on Pace's Pleasantville campus.