RINDGE, N.H. – The Assumption University men's basketball team concluded its season with an 86-73 setback against Franklin Pierce in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament on Monday evening.

Assumption (12-13) started the game red hot and built up a 7-0 advantage in the opening 1:40. But after sophomore Njavan Stewart (Newton Upper Falls, Mass.) drilled a 3-pointer, Franklin Pierce came right back with a 12-3 run of its own and took its first lead on a trey off the hands of Maxwell Zegarowski at 13:46. The margin grew to twin figures at 40-30 on a Zegarowski layup and as many as 12.

However, the Greyhounds were able to capture some momentum before halftime by slicing the deficit down to six. Senior Jordan White (Prince Frederick, Md.) hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the top of the key after junior Isiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn.) converted from downtown, and the visitors only trailed 44-38 at the break.

In the second half, however, Franklin Pierce (17-9) reestablished control and quickly went ahead by double figures at 53-42 when Isaiah Moore drove in for a layup exactly three minutes into the frame. The margin then grew to 19 on three occasions, and the Ravens found themselves up 68-49 at the midway point courtesy of another jumper by Moore. The junior extended the lead to 20 at 77-57 on a trifecta by Moore with 6:20 to play, and the Greyhounds would not be able to recover.

Moore, who was named the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year earlier today, led Franklin Pierce with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He also shot a blistering 10-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from long range. Zegarowski netted 16 points, and Sean Bresnan came just short of a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds. Brandon Kolek contributed 12 points and four assists.

Gaiter and Stewart paced Assumption in the loss with 19 points apiece. Gaiter also pulled down 13 rebounds to finish the game with a double-double. Graduate student Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) and White, who were playing in their final contest as collegians, added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Assumption graduates Kelly and White and is slated to bring back practically its entire roster next season.