Senior Patrick Lee posted 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting with five rebounds and two assists. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Van Oostrum and Jean-Guillaume fire Ravens past Skyhawks in second half

Senior Nigel Van Oostrum (Sheffield, England) and junior Eric Jean-Guillaume (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic) combined to score 37 of Franklin Pierce's 57 points on the night to lead the Ravens to victory. Van Oostrum drilled all six three-point attempts as part of 7-of-9 shooting overall for a game-high 20 points to go with two assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Jean-Guillaume added 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and converting all four free-throw attempts to go with six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals.

Sophomore Ellis Cooper (Northampton, Mass./Northampton) contributed nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, while senior Adedamola Abu (Mattapan, Mass./Marblehead) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce finished shooting 40-percent (20-for-50) from the field, including 9-for-14 (64.3%) from three-point range, after hitting at 61.9% (13-21) in the second half, drilling 5-of-7 (71.4%) three's over the final 20 minutes. The Ravens also out-rebounded Stonehill by a 39-33 margin. The Skyhawks were held to 29.6-percent (16-for-54) shooting from the field, including 7-for-23 (30.4%) from beyond the arc, and converted 8-of-9 (88.9%) free-throw attempts on the night.

Senior Andre Tongo also netted 11 points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Marcus Snowden)

Seniors Patrick Lee (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) and Andre Tongo (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) both finished with 11 points for Stonehill. Lee made 5-of-6 shots from the field and his lone free-throw attempt to go with five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Tongo hit 3-of-7 three-pointers and converted both free-throw attempts and grabbed three rebounds. Junior Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson Catholic (Md.)) contributed a team-high six rebounds, while classmate Sam Markle (Bethany, Conn./Saint Thomas More) chipped in with seven assists, six points and five boards.

Franklin Pierce burst out of the lockerroom in the second half and scored the first 13 points of the half after the teams were tied at 19-19 at the break. Van Oostrum hit back-to-back three-pointers and Jean-Guillaume capped the 13-0 run with a three 3:17 into the half. Tongo answered with a three-pointer for Stonehill, but the Ravens extended their lead to a game-high 15 (39-24) with 13:17 remaining with another Van Oostrum three and a jumper by sophomore Igor Lebov (Toronto, Ontario/Newtonbrook).

Stonehill answered with a 10-1 run to close back within six (40-34) on a layup from junior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) with 7:30 to play. Markle and sophomore Mitch Amelio (Carlsbad, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) both drained three's during the run to get the Skyhawks back in the game.

Van Oostrom quieted the run with a three and Franklin Pierce regained an 11 point (45-34) lead after a Cooper jumper with 6:05 left in regulation. Stonehill closed back within five (51-46) after a put back from May-Thompson with 1:03 left, but the Ravens iced the game by making 6-of-7 free-throws, four from Jean-Guillaume, over the final 48-seconds, while the Skyhawks missed their last five shots from the field.

Stonehill opened the game with a 10-3 lead after a layup from freshman Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) 4:16 into the game. Markle and junior Brian Hamor (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) canned three-pointers during that run as well.

Franklin Pierce closed back within one (10-9) after a Jean-Guillaume three with 13:03 left in the half, but Stonehill regained a six point advantage (17-11) after Tongo three with 8:15 left in the frame. Franklin Pierce then proceeded to wrap a 21-1 run around halftime, keyed by three from beyond the arc by Van Oostrum to take control. The Skyhawks went 0-for-10 from the field during that span of 12:24.

Stonehill (2-1, 1-1 NE-10) returns to action on Sunday to host Merrimack College for an NE-10 matchup at Merkert Gym at 3:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (5-1, 1-1 NE-10) visits Saint Michael's College on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.