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Junior Matt Hall scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in the 63-62 loss to Franklin Pierce. |
Rindge, N.H. - Behind a career-high 24 points from freshman Kinard Dozier, Franklin Pierce edged visiting Stonehill, 63-62, snapping the Skyhawks season-best, seven game winning streak at the Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
Junior Matt Hall (Springfield, Mass.) posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Stonehill, while sophomore A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe, N.J) added 13 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.), meanwhile, finished with 13 points and four boards.
After holding the Ravens to just 31 percent shooting in the first half, Stonehill yielded a 45 percent clip in the final 20 minutes. Franklin Pierce's efficiency was aided by its performance on the glass, as it outrebounded the Skyhawks 43-33. 17 of those caroms came on the offensive end, helping the Ravens hold a 20-15 advantage in second chance points.
With the game knotted at 27, Hall hit a three to open the second half and give Stonehill its first lead, erasing the early 8-0 deficit it found itself in to start the game. The Skyhawks spread the margin to eight (52-44) after a Vince Rosario (Perth Amboy, N.J.) three with 8:28 to play.
Franklin Pierce would then go on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to take a four point lead, but the Skyhawks scrapped back, evening the score at 60-60 on another Hall triple with 2:13 left.
Dozier answered with a lay-up at the other end to put the hosts back in front with 1:49 left, but Rudowitz was fouled and hit both free-throws to tie the score (62-62) for a fourth time with 54-second to go.
After Ravens' freshman Jeff Manchester grabbed a key offensive board, he was fouled with 25-seconds on the clock. Manchester made just one of two, but Hall had a pass stolen by Franklin Pierce freshman Mike Barrow with ten seconds left.
Franklin Pierce missed the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds to go, giving Stonehill one last chance to clinch the win, but the Skyhawks couldn't get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.
Stonehill (12-7, 8-4 Northeast-10) returns to the court when it hosts Southern Connecticut State on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.