Syracuse, N.Y. – Matt Banton hit four three-pointers to key a 30-8 run as Franklin Pierce University overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat the Le Moyne College men's basketball team, 66-63, on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference action at Ted Grant Court.

Senior guard Qwadere Lovell (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) led the Dolphins in scoring with 12 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists in his 100th career game. With his final basket of the game, he moved past former teammate Nate Champion '14 for 18th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1259 points. Sophomore forward Daniel Kaigler (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden/Gannon) was the only other Dolphin to reach double-figures with 11 points, while posting four rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore guard Russell Sangster (Rockville, Md./Bullis School) pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds and scored six points.

Banton finished the contest with a game-high 16 points, including 14 in the final 7:38, while adding three rebounds. Asante Sandiford recorded a double-double with 15 points (13 in the second half) and a team-best 10 rebounds, while Tyler Iacuone posted 14 points (nine in the second half) and handed out a team-high four assists.

The Ravens opened the game with seven of the first nine points, including five straight points by Iacuone.

After three-points from each team, the Dolphins rattled off 10 straight points to reverse the five-point margin. Freshman guard Eriq Jenkins (Windsor, Ontario/Catholic Central) and Lovell bookended the streak with three-pointers.

Following a 7-4 spurt by Franklin Pierce to get within 19-17 with 7:22 left, the Dolphins scored nine straight points and 12 of the next 14 to open up their largest lead of the half. Senior forward Connor Mahoney (Hanover, Mass./BC High/Brooks School) nailed a pair of three-pointers in the stretch, while four other players also scored in the streak.

Dustin Cole hit a three-pointer with 1:38 left for the final points of the half as Le Moyne took a 31-22 lead into the intermission.

The teams went back and forth over the opening eight minutes of the second half as Le Moyne's lead bounced between nine and 14 points and settled at 42-33 with 12:15 left.

Le Moyne followed with 10 of the next 13 points to take its largest lead of the game, 52-36, with 8:31 left. Kaigler and sophomore guard Tanner Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland/Bridgton Academy) each scored four points, while Sangster started the run with a lay-up.

The Ravens then started their comeback. Sandiford recorded a conventional three-point play with 8:00 left and then Banton nailed three straight three-pointers to get the Ravens within 54-48 with 5:50 to go. Following a dunk by Sandiford and a fast-break lay-up by Gittens prior to a lay-up by junior forward Stan Buczek (Port Jervis, N.Y./Burke Catholic), Banton drained his fourth three-pointer in 3:27 to make it a one-point game with 4:11 left. Sandiford then buried a three-pointer from the top-of-the-key to put Franklin Pierce in front with 3:30 to go.

Lovell made a jumper with 3:14 left to tie the score for the final time, but the Ravens answered with four straight points to take the lead for good. Mike McDevitt put Franklin Pierce in front with two free throws and then Banton made a lay-up 1:48 later for a four-point lead with 52 seconds left.

After two free throws by Lovell to get Le Moyne within 62-60 with 44 seconds to go, Iacuone made two foul shots with 16 seconds left and Sandiford made a pair 10 seconds later. Lovell ended the game's scoring with a three-pointer with 0.1 second left.

Le Moyne (6-13, 4-10 NE-10), which has dropped back-to-back home games to the Ravens for the first time as Northeast-10 opponents (Franklin Pierce joined the league in 2000), is back in action on Wednesday at The College of Saint Rose at 7:30 p.m. The game is the 13th contest of the year in the year-long "Upstate Challenge" between the institutions and is worth the second half of the men's basketball point. Le Moyne holds a 5.5-4.5 lead through the first 11 meetings.