RINDGE, N.H. – On Saturday afternoon, Pace University Men's Basketball pulled out a tough 49-46 road victory over Franklin Pierce University in a Northeast-10 Conference defensive battle. The Setters overcame an early eight-point deficit and a flurry of second-half lead changes to secure the win, improving their record to 11-8 overall (6–5 NE10).

Pace struck first when Ben Manuel threw down a fastbreak dunk for a 2–0 lead, but the host Ravens answered and later used a run to build a 23–15 advantage with five minutes left in the first half. The Setters responded in the closing minutes of the period with a three-pointer and free throws as part of an 11-4 surge, and Paxton Davidson beat the buzzer with a long trey to trim the deficit to 27–26 at halftime.

Pace carried that momentum into the second half as the Setters grabbed their largest lead of the afternoon at 37–32 after a Davidson layup and two Jaden Kealey free throws with 12 minutes on the clock. The Ravens answered with back-to-back three-pointers to reclaim a 40–39 edge, setting up a nail-biting finish.

In the final six minutes, the lead swung back and forth. Manuel muscled in an inside bucket at 6:06 to put Pace ahead 41–40, and after Franklin Pierce briefly went up 42–41 with 5 minutes left, Davidson then drained a go-ahead three-pointer to give the Setters a 44–42 lead. The Ravens hit another triple to surge back in front, 45–44, but Manuel answered with a layup on the ensuing possession to put Pace on top for good, 46–45.

From there, the Setters' defense clamped down, holding Franklin Pierce without a field goal over the final four minutes. Pace added crucial free throws down the stretch to keep the hosts at bay to make it 47–45, and one of two from the charity stripe extended the lead to 48–45.

Franklin Pierce managed one free throw with 5 seconds left to cut the margin to 48–46, but Jayden James secured the rebound on the miss and knocked down one final foul shot to seal the 49–46 triumph on the road.

Davidson led a balanced Pace offense with 12 points, including apair of three-pointers. Kealey nearly notched a double-double, totaling 9 points and a game-high 8 rebounds.

Pace's tenacious defense forced 24 turnovers by Franklin Pierce and tallied 10 steals in the game, contributing to the low-scoring, hard-fought victory.

Opening up the month of February, the Blue and Gold hit the road to Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. Northeast 10 match-up.