Smith Scores 23 Points, Stallworth Adds 15 Points And Seven Assists As Men's Basketball Sees Two Game Win Streak End With 80-72 Northeast-10 Setback To Seventh Ranked Bentley

December 9, 2006

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Merkert Gymnasium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL: BENTLEY 80, STONEHILL 72

EASTON, Mass.-- Sophomore Lew Finnegan (Lexington, Mass.) scored a career-high 20 points to lead four players in double figures as seventh-ranked Bentley remained unbeaten with an 80-72 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball victory over Stonehill Saturday afternoon at Merkert Gymnasium.

The visiting Falcons (9-0, 6-0 Northeast-10), off to their best start since the 1974-75 season, overcame an early five-point deficit with a 12-0 run en route to taking a 36-30 lead at the break, and Bentley increased that margin to 15 points (56-41) on a three-point play by senior Jeff Holmes (Westbrook, Maine) with 13:50 remaining. The host Skyhawks (5-3, 3-3 Northeast-10) then scored 13 of the game's next 17 points to whittle its deficit down to six (60-54) on a jumper by freshman Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J.) midway through the second half, and Stonehill closed to within five (67-62) on three free throws by sophomore Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) before the Falcons used a pair of three-pointers by Finnegan and senior Danny Lawson (Lexington, Mass.) to regain a double-digit lead at 72-63 with 2:16 remaining, as the Skyhawks got no closer than seven points in the final minute of action.

Holmes added 14 points and nine rebounds in the triumph for Bentley, which also received 14 points each from Lawson and junior Yusuf Abdul-Ali (Springfield, Mass.). Junior Nate Fritsch (Durham, N.C.) grabbed 11 rebounds for the Falcons, who shot 48 percent from the field and held a 31-27 rebounding edge, including an 11-6 advantage on the offensive glass alone.

Smith led all scorers with 23 points (two shy of his career-high set earlier this week) in the setback for Stonehill, which also received a career-high 15 points and seven assists from Stallworth. Senior Lance Clarke (Cambridge, Mass.) added 13 points for the Skyhawks, who also received 11 points and nine rebounds from freshman AJ Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J.). The hosts shot 50 percent from the field and connected for 10 three-pointers but hurt themselves with 19 turnovers that resulted in 14 Bentley points.

Stonehill hosts Bryant in a Northeast-10 outing on Wednesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium beginning at 7:30 p.m., while Bentley heads to North Andover, Mass. to take on Merrimack in a Northeast-10 contest at 7:30 p.m.