RINDGE, N.H. – Senior Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) converted a buzzer-beating layup to lift the Assumption University men's basketball team to a thrilling 78-76 victory over Franklin Pierce in the final game of the regular season for both schools on Tuesday evening.

With five seconds remaining in regulation and the score deadlocked at 76-all, Kelly had the ball up top and sank a layup with 0.8 seconds on the clock by driving through traffic on the left side. Franklin Pierce's desperation heave was no good, and the Greyhounds escaped with their seventh conference victory of the season and momentum heading into the conference tournament.

The entire first half was a nip-and-tuck battle. There were seven ties and three lead changes, and neither side led by more than four points. Despite falling behind 35-31 on a Matt Hofrenning dunk, Assumption rallied and seized the lead heading into the breaj by getting a 3-point play the old-fashioned way from sophomore Njavan Stewart (Newton Upper Falls, Mass.) and a buzzer-beating layup through traffic from senior Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.).

Assumption, which led 36-35 through 20 minutes of action, started to gain momentum in the second half. After two more ties and exchanges of the lead, the Greyhounds netted eight unanswered and jumped ahead by a 53-45 score when Cooper Creek (Merredin, Australia) drilled a 3-pointer with 14:02 remaining.

Franklin Pierce (15-9, NE-10 12-7) responded by rattling nine unanswered to pull ahead, but the Greyhounds immediately took it back on a trifecta by junior Kani Glover (Brockton, Mass.). The visitors clinged to the advantage over the next six minutes, as the Ravens stayed close by relying on the long ball. However, Kelly stayed dialed in by giving the Greyhounds the lead back, 73-72, by canning a trey with 2:37 remaining and then sinking the clutch basket in the final second to give his team the win.

Glover led five Assumption players in double figures by netting 22 points. He shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 6-of-10 from long range, and 2-of-3 at the line. Junior Isiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn.) and Kelly netted 11 points apiece, while Kelly also tallied four assists.

Mohamed Traore and Isaiah Moore scored 30 and 21 points, respectively, to pace Franklin Pierce in the losing effort. Moore also contributed five assists and three rebounds.

Assumption (11-12, NE-10 7-12) earned the sixth seed in its division for the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Tournament and will travel to face an opponent to be determined on Friday, Feb. 25th.