Senior Brian Hamor scored a season-high 26 points on senior day to lead the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Skyhawks postseason hopes dashed despite season-high 26 from Hamor

EASTON, Mass. (February 23, 2013) – Bentley University ended Stonehill College's postseason hopes with a 66-63 victory in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Freshman Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills) led Bentley as the lone Falcon in double-figures with a game-high 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, and converting all six free-throws to go with a team-high nine rebounds and three assists. Junior Jasper Grassa (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) added nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range, four rebounds and four assists. Freshmen Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells) and Shakir Phelps (Linden, N.J./Linden) combined to shoot 4-for-7 from beyond the arc for eight points each off the bench.

Senior Brian Hamor (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) led Stonehill with a season-high 26 points in his final game at Merkert Gym as he made 8-of-18 shot from the field, including 5-for-10 from long distance, and went 5-for-6 at the line. Sophomore Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) posted his tenth career double-double (all this season) with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds as he made 6-of-10 shots from the field and converted 2-of-3 free-throws. Senior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) chipped in a career-best ten rebounds for the Skyhawks.

Stonehill's postseason chances came to an end with the loss as it needed to win its remaining two games and have The College of Saint Rose lose its remaining two contests. Saint Rose also picked up a 71-63 victory over American International College as well.

Bentley shot 41.2-percent (21-for-51) from the field, including 12-for-24 (50%) from three-point range, and converted 12-of-13 (92.3%) free-throws on the afternoon. Stonehill shot 41.4% (24-58), including 8-for-19 (42.1%) from beyond the arc, and was just 7-for-11 (63.6%) at the line. Turnovers were even at seven apiece, but Bentley posted a 12-6 edge in points off turnovers, while Stonehill finished with a 37-31 rebounding edge.

Sophomore Jack Cole posted his tenth double-double of the season. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Stonehill staked out a ten point (13-3) lead five and a half minutes into the contest after three straight three-pointers from Hamor. Bentley followed with a 15-2 run to take a three point lead (18-15) after a Grassa three with 8:20 to play in the opening half. The Skyhawks reclaimed a four point edge (24-20) with a Cole layup with 4:23 left in the half, but the Falcons closed the half with an 8-3 spurt to take the lead (28-27) into halftime.

Bentley stretched the lead to seven (36-29) after a pair of free-throws by sophomore J.P. Koury (Red Bank, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) a minute and a half into the half, which was sparked by three-pointers from McFarland and Grassa. Stonehill responded with a 19-3 run to retake the lead and open a nine point cushion (48-39) after a jumper by senior Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson (Md.) Catholic) with 9:51 remaining.

Bentley cut the gap to a point (48-47) with a Furness three with 7:25 to play, but Stonehill regained a five point lead (52-47) on a Cole layup with 6:06 on the clock. Bentley used a 12-2 run to reclaim the lead for good and push the lead to five (59-54) after a Grassa three with 2:56 left. Hamor and McFarland traded three balls and then Hamor pulled the Skyhawks within three (62-59) with a layup with 1:43 to go. Bentley would hold there and converted all four free-throws in the final 22-seconds, while Stonehill made just one of four shots after Hamor's jumper with 1:43 left, to clinch the victory.

Stonehill (11-14, 7-14 NE-10) closes out its season on Tuesday night when it visits 12^th-ranked Saint Anselm College for an NE-10 matchup at 7:30 p.m. Bentley (10-15, 8-13 NE-10) caps its season by hosting the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

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