Rindge, N.H. (February 8) -- On Saturday afternoon, the Assumption College men's basketball team dropped a 74-70 final to Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference divisional play as the Ravens swept the regular-season series from the Hounds.

Franklin Pierce jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead over the opening 3:10, capped by a layup from Ant Lessane. The Hounds cut the lead down to 12-10 at the 11:21 mark on a three from senior Emiliano Void (Montreal, Quebec/Lockeport Regional), but the Ravens answered with a 15-6 run over the next 4:11 to push the advantage into double figures for the first time at 27-16 on a Lessane jumper. Assumption freshman Jack Sullivan (Stony Point, N.Y./Albertus Magnus), who finished the game with 11 points, answered with a three at the 6:35 mark to stop the Franklin Pierce scoring run before the Ravens took a 35-28 lead into the halftime break.

The Hounds shot 32.4 percent from the field in half and held an 8-3 lead on the offense glass. Sullivan and junior Jimmy Zenevitch (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic) led the Hounds with six points each in the half, while Lessane and Ryen Vilmont led the Ravens with 10 points each in the period.

Freshman Marcus Murray (Silver Spring, Md./John F. Kennedy) got the Hounds going early in the second half with a layup to cut the lead to 35-30, but Vilmont answered with a three for the largest lead of the game to that point for the hosts. Assumption kept chipping away though and 4:28 into the second period, a pair of threes from sophomore Chris Fitzgerald (Somerset, Mass./Northfield Mt. Hermon) had the Hounds within just one at 44-43. Assumption tied the game at 46 and 48 moments later, using a three from sophomore Matt Bailey (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) and a layup from Tim Kasper (Cologne, Germany/Gymnasium Schloss Hagerhof) to knot the game twice.

Franklin Pierce began to take control over the next five minutes, stretching the lead out 53-48 with a pair of Donte Gittens free throws and then to eight at 66-58 with 5:16 remaining following another free throw by Gittens. The Ravens continued to lead 69-62 with 4:09 left before the Hounds started their late rally. A free throw from Void and two from Sullivan cut the lead to 69-65 with 3:12 remaining, but the Ravens kept some distance and led 71-65 with 28 ticks on the clock.

Murray cut into that lead with a three-point play at the 19-second mark, followed by a Vilmont turnover that was forced by Sullivan to get the ball back for the Hounds. Assumption turned that into points with four seconds left as Fitzgerald scored on a layup to make it a two-point game at 72-70. Vilmont knocked down two free throws after a Hounds foul as the Ravens came away with the four-point victory.

Murray led the Hounds with 23 points and six assists, along with 11 from Sullivan. Void posted a team-high 12 rebounds, including nine on the defensive end.

The Ravens were paced by Vilmont with 18 points, including 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Adrianos Vourliotakis posted 17, along with 12 points and seven rebounds by Lessane and 10 points from Gittens.

For the game, Assumption shot 35.7 percent from the field that included knocking down eight three-pointers. The Hounds held a 39-33 rebounding advantage, including 19-6 on the offensive glass while also forcing 16 Franklin Pierce turnovers. The Ravens shot 46.8 percent from the field and outscored the Hounds 23-12 at the free throw line as Franklin Pierce hit 23-of-26 from the charity stripe.

With the loss, Assumption drops to 5-16 overall and 3-13 in Northeast-10 play, while Franklin Pierce improves to 17-4 overall and 12-4 in the league. The Ravens are receiving votes in this week's NABC Division II National Poll.

Assumption is back in action on Tuesday, February 11th as the Hounds host Stonehill College for a 7:30 p.m. start at Laska Gym.

Tuesday's game is the "Play 4 Kay" for the women's team, but fans are encouraged to wear pink to the men's game as well to show their support for the fight against breast cancer. Fans can tweet their best "pink" photos from the game to @acgreyhounds and use the hashtag #GoHounds, with the best pictures being retweeted throughout the game.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.