RINDGE, NH – The Assumption University men's basketball team erased a 16-point second-half deficit to comeback and defeat Franklin Pierce University 86-79 on the road Sunday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference action. 

THE BASICS

Score: Assumption University 86, Franklin Pierce University 79

Records: Greyhounds (3-2, 2-1 NE10), Ravens (1-4, 0-3 NE10)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game was back and forth to start; however, at an 8-8 tie, the Ravens jolted to a 16-10 lead, with JB Mukeba converting on the layup after Kani Glover laid one in for the Hounds. Glover was the go-to for Assumption in the first half, as his three-pointer at 13:15 made it 16-13 in favor of the home side. Assumption would play catch up for most of the half, as they would constantly try and pull back from long runs from Franklin Pierce. The Ravens were up by as much as ten with six minutes remaining in the half, with Sean Trumper converting on a turnaround jumper and Andrew Politi nailing the three. It seemed the game would get away from the Hounds, down by 15 with three minutes to go, but they clawed back with back-to-back Glover buckets. Assumption ended the half on an 8-0 run to trail 42-35 at the break. 

Franklin Pierce and Assumption came out even in the second half; however, Franklin Pierce held onto a slight lead at 56-42 with 14 minutes of action remaining. Despite the ten-point lead for the opening half of the second half, the Hounds would not quit. At 10:01, Assumption called a timeout down 67-54. Out of the break, the Hounds ripped off a nine-point run led by Myles Alcindor to cut the lead down to three. It would be a slight Franklin Pierce advantage for the next five minutes, as the clutch run from Assumption made it a close game again. Kasey Draper's driving layup with five minutes left cut the deficit to one at 75-74. Draper was sent back to the line, knocking down both and tying the game at 77 with 3:30 minutes remaining. Despite the quiet day, Cooper Creek secured an offensive board and put back at 2:57 to give the Hounds the late lead. Assumption secured some late stops, and Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton was sent to the line after drawing a foul and went 1 for 2. Trumper responded with two free throws of his own to make it an 80-79 game in the visitors' favor. However, Draper wasted no time sinking a layup of his own and extending the lead to three. On the defensive end, Alcindor came up huge with a steal and layup, followed by another Franklin Pierce turnover, giving Assumption a five-point lead and the ball with 19 seconds remaining. After another two free throws, the Hounds closed out the comeback and picked up a big victory at Franklin Pierce, 86-79. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Assumption shot 54.9 percent from the field, including 6-13 from beyond the arc.
• Despite the win, the Hounds only held the lead for 4:25 minutes, which was about 11.0 percent of the game.
• The Hounds used their depth well, outscoring Franklin Pierce in bench points 32-15.
• Assumption had three players lead with 15 points each in Glover, Draper, and Alcindor.
• The Greyhounds are now 13-29 all-time against Franklin Pierce.

UP NEXT

• AU vs. University of New Haven, Wednesday, November 29, 7:30 pm
• FP at Saint Rose, Wednesday, November 29, 7:30 pm

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