Kraus Notches Double-Double Effort Of 16 Points And 10 Assists As Men's Basketball Succumbs In Closing Seconds Of 59-55 Northeast-10 Setback At UMass Lowell

February 7, 2006

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Costello Gymnasium, Lowell, Mass.

FINAL:UMASS LOWELL 59, STONEHILL 55

LOWELL, Mass.-- Senior Carl Benn (Far Rockaway, N.J.) scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead three players in double figures as UMass Lowell posted a 59-55 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball victory over Stonehill Tuesday evening at Costello Gymnasium.

The host River Hawks (17-7, 13-6 Northeast-10) overcame an early seven-point deficit to grab an eight-point first half lead in the see-saw affair before settling for a 26-24 edge at the break, but the visiting Skyhawks (17-5, 13-5 Northeast-10) came back to take a three-point cushion (46-43) with 7:10 to play in the contest. In a game that featured seven ties and eight lead changes, UMass Lowell broke free of the final tie (54-54) on a jumper by senior Brandon Arnette (Lake Park, Fla.) with 35 seconds remaining, and a Benn free throw extended the hosts' lead to three. A free throw by senior Chris Kraus (Markham, Ont.) enabled Stonehill to close to within a bucket, and the Skyhawks had a chance to tie the contest in the final four seconds of play, but Kraus was whistled for an offensive foul, and Arnette made a pair of free throws to ice the River Hawk triumph.

Arnette and senior Stacey Moragne (Evanston, R.I.) each matched Benn with 15 points in the win for UMass Lowell, which also received eight points from sophomore Adon El (Philadelphia, Pa.) and six points from sophomore Jerreh Saidybah (Montreal, Que.). The River Hawks shot 48 percent from the field and canned five three-pointers to avenge an 80-68 setback suffered to Stonehill back on December 12th.

Kraus notched a double-double effort of 16 points and 10 assists to go with four steals in the setback for Stonehill, which also received 16 points and six boards from senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif.). Senior Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass.) and junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass.) each added seven points and six rebounds from the Skyhawks, who shot 40 percent from the field but just 11 percent (2-19) from behind the arc despite holding a 32-28 rebounding advantage.

Stonehill travels to Rindge, N.H. on Saturday afternoon to take on Franklin Pierce in a Northeast-10 outing that tips-off at 3:30 p.m., while UMass Lowell heads to North Andover, Mass. on Saturday afternoon to take on Merrimack in a Northeast-10 match-up that begins at 3:00 p.m.