Defense Keys Stonehill Past Southern New Hampshire, 52-43


Junior Brian Hamor scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Skyhawks past Southern New Hampshire tonight. (PHOTO BY Br. Charles McBride)

Hamor leads Skyhawks again with 17 points

MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 14, 2012) – Stonehill College made the most of 19 Southern New Hampshire University turnovers to claim a 52-43 victory in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse tonight.

Junior Brian Hamor (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) led the way for Stonehill, now winners of seven of its last eight NE-10 road games, with a game-high 17 points (12 second half), aided by 2-of-5 shooting from three-point range while converting 5-of-7 free-throws, to go with four rebounds. Freshman Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds with two blocked shots and two steals. Junior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) also contributed eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-for-4 from deep, with two assists and two boards off the bench.

Senior Tory Stapleton (Rahway, N.J./Gill St. Bernard's) netted a team-high 16 points in 22 minutes off the bench to lead Southern New Hampshire as he hit 7-of-11 shots from the field and 2-of-3 free-throws to go with two rebounds. Sophomore CJ Marriro (Boston, Mass./Newton North) added eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Stonehill made the most of Southern New Hampshire's 19 miscues, posting a 14-5 advantage in points off turnovers. The Skyhawks shot 39.6-percent (19-for-48) from the field, including 40% (10-25) in the second half. The Penmen made 38.1% (16-42) of their shots from the field, including 42.9% (9-21) in the second half, converting just 2-of-11 (18.2%) three-pointers on the night. SNHU finished with a 34-29 rebounding advantage.


Sophomore Jack Cole added eight points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. (PHOTO BY Marcus Snowden)

Stonehill overcame a slow start that saw Southern New Hampshire take an eight point (14-6) lead after a three point play from Stapleton ten minutes into the game. The Penmen lead was still seven (15-8) after Stapleton made one of two at the line with 9:53 left in the half, when the Skyhawks started to click.

Stonehill used an 11-1 run over the next seven and a half minutes to take its first lead (19-16) after a Hamor three with 2:27 to go in the frame. Fazzini sparked the run with a three-pointer and finished with five points during that stretch, while sophomore Mitch Amelio (Carlsbad, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) also buried a three during that stretch. The teams traded baskets before Hamor converted two free-throws with 52-seconds left to send the Skyhawks into halftime with a three-point (23-20) lead.

Hamor opened the second half with a conventional three point play and scored the first five points of the half overall to put Stonehill in front by eight (28-20) 1:21 into the frame. Southern New Hampshire drew within two (38-36) with a Stapleton jumper with 8:14 remaining and then knotted the score (40-40) with two free-throws by freshman Aleksandar Dobrovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) with 4:40 to play.

Stonehill scored the final eight points of the contest after a Stapleton basket drew the hosts within a point (44-43) with 3:17 to play to seal the win. Hamor opened the game clinching run with a three pointer and added a jumper on Stonehill's next trip down before Cole sealed it with two free-throws with 1:40 to go. The Penmen missed their final three shots from the field as well.

Stonehill (16-8, 12-7 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it visits rival Bentley University for a key NE-10 clash at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, February 21, to host Saint Anselm College in the regular season finale at Merkert Gym at 7:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (12-13, 8-11 NE-10) visits Merrimack College on Saturday at 3 p.m.