Sophomore Pierce Cumpstone led Stonehill with a career-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting today against Bentley. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Falcons remain unbeaten behind 55.4-percent shooting
EASTON, Mass. (November 23, 2013) – Bentley University, among teams receiving votes in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches' (NABC) Division II poll, shot over 55-percent from the field to shoot its way to an 81-63 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Junior J.P. Koury (Red Bank, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) led a balanced Bentley effort with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field with five rebounds and four assists. Senior Jasper Grassa (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while sophomore Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points, four assists and three boards. Sophomore Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills) chipped in eight points and a game-high eight rebounds with three assists.
Bentley shot 55.4-percent (31-for-56) from the field, including 56% (14-25) in the second half, as it drained 12-of-25 (48%) three-pointers on the day. The Falcons hit on 7-of-13 (53.8%) from downtown in the first half and finished with a 37-28 rebounding advantage. Stonehill shot 40% (26-for-65) for the day, including 37.8% (14-37) in the second half, connecting on 9-of-25 (36%) three-pointers and went to the free-throw line just three times (converting two) all day.
Sophomore Adam Bramanti scored nine of his career-best 12 points in the first half. |
Sophomore Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) led Stonehill with a game and career-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 1-for-2 from three-point range, and converting his lone free-throw attempt to go with five rebounds. Classmate Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet Regional) scored nine of his career-high 12 points in the first half, finishing 4-for-7 from three-point range, while classmate Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) contributed 11 points, three assists and three rebounds.
Stonehill held a pair of early two point leads, but Bentley raced out to an 18-6 lead after a three-point play from freshman Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy) five minutes into the contest. The Skyhawks closed within three (24-12) after a Cumpstone jumper with 9:29 remaining in the opening half. The pendulum swung back in the Falcons favor with a 16-5 run to close out the half with a 14 point (43-29) lead at halftime. Sophomore Shaq Phelps (Linden, N.J./Linden) sparked the run with back to back three-pointers, while Koury scored six points during that stretch, including the final four points of the half.
Furness opened the second half with a three to push the Bentley lead to 17 (46-29). Stonehill chipped its deficit down to nine (59-50) after a Bramanti three-pointer with 11:28 left, but would get no closer. The Falcons scored ten straight points to gain a 19 point (69-50) lead after a Grassa three with 7:31 to play. Stonehill got back within 13 (71-58) with 5:32 still to play after back to back three-pointers from Cumpstone and Smith, but as was the case all afternoon, Bentley had an answer. The Falcons sealed it with six straight points over the next two minutes to regain their 19 point (77-58) lead after a McFarland layup with 3:14 to go.
Stonehill (2-3, 0-2 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday when it visits 23rd-ranked Franklin Pierce University for an NE-10 matchup at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Wednesday, December 4, to host Assumption College at 7:30 p.m. Bentley (6-0, 3-0 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks mobile app on iTunes and the Android Market.
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