Kraus Connects On Clutch Three-Pointer In Overtime As 24th-Ranked Men's Basketball Overcomes Late Seven Point Deficit To Record Seventh Straight Victory With 67-64 Northeast-10 Extra Session Triumph At Merrimack

January 2, 2006

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Monday, January 2, 2006

Volpe Complex, North Andover, Mass.

FINAL:STONEHILL 67, MERRIMACK 64 (OVERTIME)

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.-- Senior Chris Kraus's (Markham, Ont.) three-pointer with 47.7 seconds remaining in overtime snapped a 62-62 tie and propelled 24th-ranked Stonehill to a 67-64 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball victory over Merrimack Monday evening at the Volpe Complex.

Kraus earned redemption with his extra-session three-pointer, as he was called for a charge on a potential go-ahead lay-in with six seconds remaining in regulation. His only three-pointer of the game gave the host Skyhawks (9-1, 5-1 Northeast-10) a 65-62 cushion, and after a jumper by junior Micky Burtnyk (Phoenix, Ariz.) enabled the host Warriors (6-5, 4-2 Northeast-10) to close to within one with 24.2 seconds remaining, Kraus hit a pair of free throws with 22.9 seconds to play to extend Stonehill's lead back to three, as Merrimack was unable to attempt a game-tying shot in the closing seconds in a match-up of teams that entered the contest tied for second place in the conference standings.

Stonehill broke open a one-point contest late in the first half by scoring the final six points over the final 2:08 of action to take a 35-28 lead at the break, but Merrimack used a 10-3 run early in the second half to even matters at 45-45 with 10:59 remaining in regulation. The Warriors then scored 12 of the game's next 17 points over a 5:09 stretch to take a 57-50 advantage with 5:50 to play in regulation on a jumper by senior Bobby Murgo (Watertown, Mass.), but the Skyhawks responded by scoring the next eight points of the game, capping the run with two free throws by senior Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass.) that gave Stonehill a 58-57 cushion with 2:02 to play. A free throw by junior Olatungie Lightfoot-Taylor (Lawrence, Mass.) with 1:13 enabled Merrimack to tie the score, and both teams had chances for the game-winner in regulation but were unable to convert, setting up Kraus's overtime heroics.

Senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif.) led all scorers with 21 points to go with five rebounds for Stonehill, which continued its best start in eight years and extended its winning streak to seven straight. Kraus added 15 points and six assists for the Skyhawks, who also received 12 points and seven rebounds from Nelson as well as 11 points, including three three-pointers, from junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass.). Stonehill shot 44 percent from the field and connected on seven three-pointers in posting their third straight win (and 58th overall) in the series with Merrimack.

Senior Kent Leahy (Braintree, Mass.) paced Merrimack with 17 points and six rebounds, while Murgo and Burtnyk each had 12 points for the Warriors, who received 11 points and six boards from senior Bruno Zanotti (Asuncion, Paraguay) as well as seven points and a game-high eight rebounds from Lightfoot-Taylor. Merrimack shot 39 percent from the field but connected on just 4-of-25 attempts from three-point range, as the Warriors hurt themselves with 19 turnovers that led to 11 Stonehill points.

Stonehill hosts American International in a Northeast-10 outing on Thursday evening at Merkert Gymnasium beginning at 7:30 p.m., while Merrimack entertains Assumption in a Northeast-10 match-up on Thursday evening at the Volpe Complex beginning at 7:30 p.m.