By JONAS MILLER
Co-Executive Editor
The Men’s basketball team put on a show Saturday afternoon as they trounced the visiting Franklin Pierce Ravens 87-67 at the Daniel P. Nolan gymnasium.
The Golden Knights, led by five players putting up double-digit scoring numbers, out-shot and out-rebounded Franklin Pierce, putting on a dominant show in front of the home crowd.
“We were patient and executed really well,” said junior forward Jack Jones. “By taking our time on offense and getting good shots we were able to take them out of their game and make them play ours.” Jones contributed 15 points on five of eight shooting including a trio of three-point buckets.
The Golden Knights leading scorer on Saturday was junior Mical-Ryan Boyd with 19, followed by senior Chris Dorgler, who had 17, and fellow senior Damon Coleman with 13. Junior Julian Lipinski chipped in 12 points while also leading Saint Rose in rebounds with nine.
The offensive flow the Golden Knights have found this year can be attributed to the amount of time this group of players has spent together over the last three years. With only one newcomer to the team, Saint Rose welcomed back an almost identical squad from last year which, according to Jones, has made it easy to find success.
“We’ve had the same group of core guys for three years now,” Jones said. “That provides a whole new level of comfort and trust in eachother.”
Trust each other they do, with assists coming on 19 of the team’s 33 buckets.
The game was never close, as the Golden Knights needed only ten minutes of playing time to build up a double-digit lead. Dorgler ended the first half for the Golden Knights with an exclamation point, getting a layup to fall as time expired. Saint Rose took an 11-point lead into the locker room, leading 47-36 at the half.
The second half brought more of the same. Saint Rose dominated both sides of the ball, shooting 50 percent from the field and forcing seven Franklin Pierce turnovers that included three traveling violations.
“Every game, we set up process goals,” said Head Coach Brian Beaury. “The more we achieve, the easier it is for us to accomplish the mission of winning.”
Saint Rose improved their record to a conference-best 15-4, beating a Franklin Pierce team that sat second in the Northeast division going into Saturday’s contest. This is by far one of the most talented teams Coach Beaury has had in his 31-year tenure, but he makes sure to keep himself and the team focused and ready.
“I used to be in search of something that’s impossible,” Beaury said. “We’ve coined the phrase ‘perfect is the enemy.’”
He said he never wants perfect shots from his players, he wants good shots.
“Trying to take perfection out of the game takes some pressure off of the players,” Beaury continued. “It’s a quick game, you’ve got to learn to react.”
The Golden Knights will take on Merrimack on Wednesday at 7:30 in the second half of a double header inside Daniel P. Nolan gymnasium.
For more information on the Men’s Basketball team and the rest of the Saint Rose athletic department, visit www.gogoldenknights.com
