Rindge, N.H. (January 3) -- Despite a 20-point effort by sophomore Marcus Murray (Washington, D.C./John F./ Kennedy) on Saturday afternoon, the Assumption College men's basketball team dropped a 68-66 overtime final at Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference play.

The Hounds jumped ahead by a 20-13 margin with 8:02 left in the first after Murray knocked down a jumper and eventually stretched the lead into double figures at 26-16 after a Murray free throw. Assumption led by as many as 15 in the period at 31-16 after a basket from junior Tre Owens (Rota, Spain/Rota) before taking the eventual 35-21 lead over the Ravens into the break. Murray accounted for the final points of the half as well, knocking down two free throws with five seconds left for the 14-point margin.

In the second, the Ravens started off the period on a 15-8 run that was capped by a layup from Tyler Iacuone to cut the lead to just seven at 43-36 with 12:52 on the clock. Layups from senior Jimmy Zenevitch (Methuen, Mass./Malden Catholic) and junior Karl Ziegler (Annandale, Va./Annandale) extended the lead back to double digits at 47-36 before an 11-0 scoring spurt over 7:22 tied the game at 47-47 at the 4:21 mark. The run was keyed by seven points from Ryen Vilmont, including a three that finally tied the game up.

Junior Terrance Bobb-Jones (Wilmington, Del./Delcastle-Voc Tech) put the Hounds back in front with a layup with 3:23 mark and the team extended the advantage back to five with just 1:23 seconds left after a pair of free throws by Murray. Franklin Pierce was not done though as Paul Becklens scored seven straight for the Ravens, who eventually closed to within 58-56 on a Becklens triple with 22 seconds remaining. After a Murray free throw made it 59-56, Iacuone knocked down a three in the final moments to send the game into the extra period.  

In overtime, Ziegler gave the Hounds a quick 61-59 lead before a dunk by Donte Gittens put the Ravens back ahead at 62-61 with 2:47 on the clock. The game remained a one-possession contest with the Ravens leading 66-64 before a Murray layup with six ticks on the clock tied the game for the final time. Gittens scored the game winner on a layup though in the final seconds as he finished the game with 15 points.

Assumption held a commanding 56-38 advantage on the boards, led by a 16-rebound effort by Zenevitch as he also scored eight points. Murray led the team with 20 points and five assists, along with 16 points by Ziegler and a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double from Bobb-Jones.

Vilmont led Franklin Pierce with 22 points and eight rebounds, along with 15 points by Gittens, 13 by Mike McDevitt and 11 from Iacuone. Becklens also led all players in the game with eight assists.

With the loss, Assumption dropped to 5-7 overall and 2-5 in Northeast-10 play, while Franklin Pierce improved to 8-5 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on January 7th as the Hounds host Saint Rose for a Northeast-10 Conference game beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Laska Gym.

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