Senior Raheem May-Thompson scored a career-high 26 points to go with five rebounds to lead the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
May-Thompson's career-best 26 leads five Skyhawks in double-figures
EASTON, Mass. (December 16, 2012) – Stonehill College shot 52.5-percent from the field and placed five players in double-figures to claim an 87-82 victory over Concordia (N.Y.) College in non-conference men's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Senior forward Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson (Md.) Catholic) posted a career-high scoring effort off the bench for the second straight game as he netted 26 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the field, including 6-for-7 in the first half, to go with five rebounds (four offensive), an assist, blocked shot and steal. Classmate Brian Hamor (Guilderland, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) added 17 points (11 second half) on 4-of-9 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three-point range, and converting all five free-throw attempts to go with six assists, two rebounds and two steals.
Senior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) contributed 15 points (10 first half) on 4-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-5 from deep, while draining 5-of-6 free-throws, with two boards. Sophomore Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) grabbed his third double-double of the season with 12 points and a team-high 11 rebounds with a blocked shot and steal. Freshman Josh Heyliger (Bear, Del./The Hill School) chipped in with a season-high 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including his lone three-point attempt, and converting both free-throw attempts to go with a season-best seven boards, three assists and a blocked shot.
Senior Brian Hamor added 17 points, aided by 4-for-6 shooting from deep, and six assists. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Stonehill finished shooting 52.5-percent (31-for-59) from the field, including 55.6% (15-27) in the second half, as the Skyhawks made 8-of-16 (50%) three-pointers and converted 73.9% (17-23) of its free-throws. Concordia shot 45.2% (28-for-62 overall) in each half, including 7-for-16 (43.8%) from beyond the arc, and made 79.2% (19-24) of its free-throws, including 11-for-14 (78.6%) in the first half. The Clippers registered a 36-33 rebounding edge, resulting in a 17-13 margin in second chance points, and outscored Stonehill 24-15 in points off turnovers with the Skyhawks finishing one higher (14-13) on turnovers for the day.
Senior Argelix Gil (Brooklyn, N.Y./Franklin L. Kane) led Concordia with a double-double-effort of 19 points and 12 rebounds (seven offensive) with two steals, converting 8-of-9 free-throws. Senior Brandon Whitaker (Harlem, N.Y./St. Agnes) posted 20 points off the bench on 8-of-11 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, and converting his two free-throw attempts, to go with three boards and three steals in 21 minutes.
Senior Lavor Morris (Bronx, N.Y./Lakeland) added 14 points, while junior Norman Pope (Washington, D.C./St. John's College) contributed 13 points, four rebounds (three offensive) and two steals. Sophomore Kyle Kube (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) chipped in ten points (all first half), aided by 2-of-3 shooting from deep, five rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes off the bench.
Stonehill used a 12-7 stretch to open its largest lead of the second half (78-70) after a Cole free-throw with 3:57 to play. Concordia, as it did all day, rallied to within three (81-78) with a Morris three-pointer with 2:18 to go. The Skyhawks held strong again, pushing the lead back to seven (86-79) with two Hamor free-throws with 31-seconds remaining, finally sealing the win. Whitaker buried a three at the other end with 11-seconds to play, but it would prove too late as Fazzini made one of two at the line on the other end and Morris missed a triple with two seconds left to close the game out.
Freshman Josh Heyliger netted a season-high 11 points with a season-best seven rebounds and three assists. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Stonehill looked poised to run away early as it scored the first ten points of the game, led by five points from Heyliger and a Fazzini three over the opening three minutes of the contest. The Skyhawks lead grew to 13 (17-4) with a May-Thompson layup at the five minute mark, before Concordia made its first run to within three (17-14) with a Kube three-pointer capping the 10-0 run with 11:05 left in the half.
Stonehill regrouped with a 15-4 run over the next five minutes to stake out a game-high 14 point (32-18) cushion on a May-Thompson layup with 6:27 left in the half. Hamor sparked the run with a four-point play, while May-Thompson scored ten of his 12 first half points during that stretch as well. Concordia responded again, posting a 12-0 run, keyed by a conventional three-point play by Morris and a three-pointer from Whitaker to cut the lead to two (32-30) with 4:08 left in the frame.
Concordia worked a 42-42 tie at halftime and took its first lead on the opening possession of the second half with a Jamie Holder (Milford, N.H./Notre Dame Prep) jumper. Heyliger followed with a basket at the other end, but the Clippers took a game-high four point lead (48-44) with a layup from Gil a minute into the half. Stonehill drew even with a Fazzini jumper and two free-throws by Heyliger, but Concordia regained a three point advantage (51-48) after a Pope layup with 17:02 to play.
Stonehill used a 10-2 run to regain the lead and push it to five (58-53) with a May-Thompson jumper with 14:41 remaining. Hamor keyed the run with a pair of three-pointers. The Skyhawks wouldn't trail again, but the lead wouldn't go higher than two possessions until its eight point lead (78-70) with 3:57 left.
Stonehill (4-4, 2-4 NE-10) is off for a holiday break until Saturday and Sunday, December 29-30, when it hosts the East Region Classic at Merkert Gymnasium. The Skyhawks will battle Philadelphia University on Saturday, December 29, at 3 p.m., with Holy Family University and 17th-ranked Assumption College squaring off at 1 p.m. Concordia (4-9, 2-4 CACC) visits the University of New Haven on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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