Hardge’s 35-Point Performance Propels Men’s Hoops Past Framingham State, 97-92

QUINCY, Mass.- Junior Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) poured in a career-high 35 points as the Eastern Nazarene College men's basketball team fended off a late rally to top Framingham State 97-92 in non-conference action at the Lahue Athletic Center Monday evening.

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 97, Framingham State 92
Records: Lions (3-8) | Rams (4-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene claimed a double-digit advantage with 11:38 remaining in the first half as Sammuel Prosper (Hyde Park, Mass.) splashed a corner three-pointer, 24-13.
• The Lions widened the gap to 45-31 with a 7-0 run, capped off by a trey from Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) with 2:43 left to play in the opening frame.
• Framingham State closed out the first half with seven unanswered points to cut the home side's halftime lead to 45-38.
• Eastern Nazarene pushed its advantage to 76-56 with 8:32 on the clock in the second stanza on a three-pointer by Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.).
• The Rams battled back to narrow the margin to 91-88 on back-to-back treys by Adonis Vashon and Kyle Philistin with 44 seconds remaining in regulation.
• The Lions stretched their lead to 95-88 as Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) converted two free throws and Sammuel Prosper (Hyde Park, Mass.) flushed a fast-break dunk with 15 seconds to go.
• Framingham State responded with four points to cut the deficit to 95-92 before Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) drilled two free throws with three seconds left to play to lock up Eastern Nazarene's third victory of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:        

• Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) finished with 35 points to lead all scorers while also adding seven assists and three steals.
• Martinie Kamga (Yaounde, Cameroon) notched his sixth double-double of the year, scoring 12 points and grabbing 13 boards.
• Kobe Jones (Picayune, Miss.) tallied 16 points on the night.
• Eastern Nazarene shot a season-best 59.6% from the floor and canned 13 three-pointers on 24 attempts.
• Framingham State finished with a field-goal percentage of 47.9% while connecting on 5-of-19 from beyond the arc.
• Kyle Philistin netted 24 points to pace the Rams while Jonathan Noel, Adonis Vashon, and Joshua Saint Jean all registered 17 points.

                                                                                    
LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene visits Fitchburg State December 13.