Senior Adam Fazzini connected on 5-of-10 three-pointers for a team-high 16 points at New Haven tonight. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Skyhawks drop fourth straight NE-10 matchup with fifth road setback

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (January 9, 2013) – The University of New Haven pulled away in the second half to claim a 63-50 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Charger Gymnasium tonight.

Senior Jeremy Williams (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) led three New Haven players in double figures with a game-high 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting, making all nine of his shots inside the three-point arc, and converting his lone free-throw attempt to go with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore Eric Anderson (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) posted a double-double with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, a game-high 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, while junior Justin Exum (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xavarian) added 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, and four boards.

Senior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) was the lone Stonehill player in double-figures with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range, converting his lone free-throw attempt, and a team-best five rebounds. Senior Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson (Md.) Catholic) contributed nine points, five rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench, while classmate Brian Hamor (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) chipped in eight points and two assists.

New Haven finished shooting 51.9-percent (27-for-52) from the field, including 61.5% (16-for-26) in the second half to break open a three point game (28-25) at halftime. The Chargers shot 5-for-14 (35.7%) from deep and converted just 4-of-7 (57.1%) free-throws, posting a 37-30 rebounding advantage.

Stonehill shot 33.3-percent (19-for-57) from the floor, including 32.1% (9-28) in the second half, and connected on 10-of-28 (35.7%) three-pointers while converting just 2-of-6 (33.3%) free-throws. The Skyhawks held a 15-6 advantage in second chance points, despite getting outrebounded by seven, and outscored New Haven 13-11 in points off turnovers and 15-4 for bench points.

After a back and forth first half in which neither team led by more than five points, New Haven began to gain some breathing room in the second half behind its 60-percent shooting. The Chargers pushed the lead to eight (36-28) after a layup by junior Jeffrey Adkins (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) three minutes into the half. The lead reached nine (40-31) with an Adkins jumper with 12:41 remaining.

Stonehill closed within six (42-36) with a Fazzini three-pointer with 12:05 to play, but New Haven reeled off a 15-0 run to take control with a game-high 21 point lead (57-36) on a layup by sophomore Cyrus James (Manchester, Conn./Howell Cheney Tech) with 6:04 left. James and Anderson both scored four points and Exum added a three-pointer to lead the run.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Hamor and freshman Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) closed the Stonehill deficit to 15 (57-42) with 4:31 left, but that would be as close as the Skyhawks would get until the final margin of 13 in the final seconds. New Haven outscored the Skyhawks 24-6 in the paint for the second half.

The first half featured four ties and seven lead changes with neither team leading by more than five points. Fazzini opened the game with a three pointer and added another for an early 6-5 lead just over two minutes into the contest. May-Thompson forced a 10-10 tie with a layup with 13 minutes left in the half and then freshman Josh Heyliger (Bear, Del./The Hill School) knotted the score at 12-12 with a jumper with 9:26 left.

Williams put New Haven back on top (14-12) before Fazzini converted a four point play after he was fouled hitting a three-pointer with 8:10 remaining in the half. It proved to be the Skyhawks last lead of the night as the Chargers scored five straight points to regain a three point advantage (19-16) on a Williams basket with 7:05 to play in the frame.

Hamor answered with a three for the final tie of the half (19-19) before New Haven opened the largest lead of the frame (26-21) after a James free-throw with 3:20 remaining. Stonehill drew within a point (26-25) after back-to-back baskets from May-Thompson and sophomore Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence), but Exum hit a jumper at the buzzer to send the Chargers into halftime with a three point lead (28-25).

Stonehill (6-6, 2-6 NE-10) returns to Merkert Gym on Saturday to host The College of Saint Rose at 3:30 p.m. The College will welcome back its first two NCAA Tournament teams from the 1970-71 and 1972-73 seasons for a halftime recognition and postgame reception at the Martin Auditorium. New Haven (7-5, 4-4 NE-10) visits Merrimack College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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