Smith Scores 22 Points And Grabs Nine Rebounds, Rudowitz Adds Double-Double Effort Of 19 Points And 10 Boards As Men's Basketball Notches Fifth Straight Victory With 91-79 Non-League Triumph At Dowling

December 30, 2006

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Eastern Campus Court, Oakdale, N.Y.

FINAL: STONEHILL 91, DOWLING 79

OAKDALE, N.Y.-- Sophomore Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to post his seventh 20-point scoring performance in the last eight games and lead four players in double figures as Stonehill extended its winning streak to five straight with a 91-79 non-league college men's basketball victory over Dowling Saturday afternoon on the Eastern Campus Court.

The visiting Skyhawks (10-3) blistered the nets at a 70 percent clip in the opening 20 minutes of play, as Stonehill raced out to a 14-point advantage before four late turnovers enabled the host Golden Lions (2-8) to whittle their deficit down to five (42-37) at the break. The Skyhawks continued their torrid shooting pace after intermission in connecting at a 63 percent clip overall to regain a double-digit advantage, as the visitors used 21 free throws in the second half to build as much as a 19-point lead in the closing minutes.

Freshman AJ Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J.) added his third career double-double effort with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the triumph for Stonehill, which also received 14 points from senior Lance Clarke (Cambridge, Mass.) as well as a season-high 11 points from sophomore Matt Hall (Springfield, Mass.). Senior Soap Toun (Cranston, R.I.) chipped in with eight points off the bench for the Skyhawks, who also received seven points and seven assists from freshman Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J.). The visitors shot 67 percent overall and canned seven three-pointers, as Stonehill held a 28-10 scoring advantage from the charity stripe for the contest and held a 36-25 rebounding edge to overcome 15 total turnovers on the afternoon.

Senior Wesley Boone led all scorers with 24 points and four assists in the setback for Dowling, which also received 18 points from freshman David Seagers. Freshman Akio Charles grabbed eight rebounds for the Golden Lions, who shot 39 percent from the field but connected for 13 three-pointers on the day, as the hosts held a 14-4 edge on the offensive glass and committed only four turnovers.

Stonehill hosts Saint Anselm in a re-match of last year's Northeast-10 Conference championship game on Wednesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium beginning at 7:30 p.m., while Dowling hosts Mercy in an East Coast Conference match-up next Saturday afternoon on the Eastern Campus Court at 2:00 p.m.