Freshman Carter Smith made 6-of-7 shots, including 2-of-3 three-pointers, to lead the Skyhawks with 14 points this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Owls erase 11 point second half deficit to claim NE-10 victory

EASTON, Mass. (January 26, 2013) – Southern Connecticut State University rallied from an 11 point second half deficit to claim a 77-74 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Weekend at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Junior Greg Langston (Stratford, Conn./St. Joseph's) led Southern Connecticut with a game-high 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field, draining both three-pointers, to go with four rebounds. Freshman Deshawn Murphy (Hamden, Conn./Hyde) added 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 5-for-8 from three-point range, to go with four rebounds, while senior Trevon Hamlet (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Laughlin) finished with 16 points, six rebounds, six blocked shots and two assists as he connected on 6-of-13 shots from the field, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, and converted 2-of-3 free-throws. Sophomore Tylon Smith (Manchester, Conn./Kingswood-Oxford) pulled down a team-high ten rebounds to go with seven points for the Owls.

Freshman Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led four Stonehill players in double figures with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, with three assists. Sophomore Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) posted his sixth career double-double (all this season) with ten points and ten rebounds with three assists, shooting 5-for-9 from the field, while freshman Pierce Cumpstone (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) added a season-high 13 points, aided by 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc, and season-best seven rebounds. Senior Brian Hamor (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) scored all 12 of his points in the first half, hitting 3-of-6 three-pointers and converting 3-of-4 free-throws to go with three assists.

Freshman Pierce Cumpstone scored a season-high 13 points and added a season-best seven rebounds for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Southern shot 50.9-percent (27-for-53) from the field, including 52.4% (11-21) in the second half, connecting on 11-of-19 (57.9%) three-pointers and converting 12-of-15 (80%) free-throws for the afternoon. Stonehill finished shooting 45.9-percent (28-for-61) from the field, but just 37.5% (12-32) in the second half after hitting at 55.2% (16-29) in the first. The Skyhawks shot 48.3% (14-for-29) from three-point range, including 9-for-15 (60%) in the opening half but just 5-for-14 (35.7%) in the second. Stonehill also converted just 4-of-11 (36.4%) of its free-throw attempts for the afternoon.

Stonehill posted a 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers, and its bench outscored the Southern Connecticut reserves 35-9, but the Owls registered a 34-31 rebounding edge.

Stonehill led by six (45-39) at the half, fueled by its 9-for-15 shooting from downtown, and extended its lead to 11 (50-39) three minutes into the second half after a Cole layup and three-pointer from freshman Josh Heyliger (Bear, Del./The Hill School). Southern responded with a 14-5 run over the next six minutes to close within two (55-53) after a Murphy three-pointer with 11:04 to play. Murphy drained two three's during that stretch, while Hamlet sparked the run with a three point play and Smith added a three-ball as well.

Stonehill regained a nine point cushion (66-57) after a Heyliger layup with 6:38 remaining. The Skyhawks lead was still seven (68-61) following a Cole layup with 4:05 left, but Southern responded with an 11-0 run to take a four point lead (72-68) after two free-throws from Smith with 58-seconds on the clock. Hamlet started the rally with a three-pointer, sophomore Luke Houston (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) converted a three-point play and then Langston drilled a three to put the Owls in front.

Senior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) connected with a three-pointer to pull Stonehill within a point (72-71) with 37-seconds to play. Houston was fouled before the ball was inbounded and drained both free-throws to regain a three-point advantage. Fazzini misfired from deep at the other end and Langston split two free-throws to put the Owls back up four (75-71) with 23-seconds to play. Smith hit a deep three to draw Stonehill back within two (76-74) with four seconds on the clock and Murphy made just one of two free throws at the other end, to give the Skyhawks a desperation shot at the buzzer, but the full court heave was well short.

Stonehill and Southern combined to make 15 three-pointers, on 25 attempts, in the first half. The Skyhawks scored the first five points of the game and opened a nine point lead (19-10) after a three-pointer from freshman Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet Regional) seven minutes into the game.

Southern used a 10-0 run to take its first lead (28-27) after a Murphy three with 7:55 to play in the half. The teams traded the lead back and forth until Stonehill used a 9-3 spurt to regain a six point lead (43-37) after a Smith layup with 3:12 left before the half, and the Skyhawks would take that lead into halftime.

Stonehill (8-9, 4-9 NE-10) is right back in action on Tuesday when it hosts Adelphi University for a Northeast-10 matchup in Merkert Gym at 7:30 p.m. Southern Connecticut State (11-6, 8-5 NE-10) visits Southern New Hampshire University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

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