Freshman Ryan Logan posted a team-high 17 points to go with eight rebounds. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds) |
Purple Knights pull away in overtime for fourth straight win
COLCHESTER, Vt. (January 4, 2014) – Saint Michael's College held off Stonehill College for its fourth straight win with an 86-82 overtime decision in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Ross Sports Center this afternoon.
Freshman Matt Bonds (Accokeek, Md./North Point) scored four of his 16 points in overtime to lift Saint Michael's to the win. He finished 7-of-9 from the field in 24 minutes off the bench to go with four rebounds. Junior James Cambronne (De Bary, Fla./The Winchendon School) led the five Purple Knights in double figures with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with ten rebounds for a double-double effort, adding a pair of blocked shots. Saint Michael's made the most of its five overtime shots, hitting three, to break the 78-78 deadlock after regulation.
Junior Mike Holton, Jr. (Portland, Ore./The Winchendon School) added 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot for Saint Michael's, while sophomore Greg Grippo (Edison, N.J./Rutgers Prep) contributed 13 points off the bench on 4-of-8 shooting, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, while converting both free-throw attempts. Junior Mike Thompson (Rosedale, N.Y./Christ the King) chipped in with 12 points and six boards.
Freshman Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) led four Stonehill players in double-figures with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field while shooting 5-for-6 from the line to go with eight rebounds. Sophomore Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet Regional) scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half as he finished 4-for-8 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, to go with two assists and two rebounds. Classmate Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) also netted 14 points with six assists and four rebounds, while sophomore Stuart McEwen (Sydney, Australia) contributed 11 points, aided by 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, off the bench. Junior Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.
Sophomore Carter Smith added 14 points and six assists this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds) |
Saint Michael's finished shooting 50.7-percent (35-for-69) from the field, but was just 7-for-22 (31.8%) from three-point range and converted 9-of-17 (52.9%) free-throw attempts. Stonehill was held to 38% (30-for-79) shooting, including 11-for-29 (37.9%) from beyond the arc, while converting 11-of-13 (84.6%) at the stripe. The Skyhawks held a 48-35 rebounding advantage, resulting in a 19-8 edge in second chance points.
In a game that featured 12 ties and ten lead changes and was level after both halftime (40-40) and regulation (78-78), Saint Michael's was finally able to seal the win in overtime. Cole scored the first basket of the extra frame for an early Stonehill advantage, but Bonds scored two straight baskets after Holton, Jr., made one of two at the line to give Saint Michael's the lead for good (83-80) with 1:45 to play. Smith pulled the Skyhawks back within a point with 1:31 to go, but Cambronne answered at the other end. After a Stonehill turnover with six seconds on the clock, Thompson sealed the win with one of two at the free-throw line with five seconds to play.
Stonehill held the largest lead of the contest with an 11 point bulge (23-12) with 11:53 to play in the first half after back to back three-pointers from Bramanti capped a 13-0 run. Saint Michael's answered with a 16-5 run over the next five minutes to pull even (28-28) with seven minutes to go in the half after two straight baskets from Bonds. Neither team would lead by more than six the rest of the way.
Stonehill led nearly the entire second half, holding a six point edge (72-66) after a pair of McEwen free-throws with 4:41 to play. A Grippo three drew Saint Michael's back within a point (72-71) with 4:02 on the clock, but the Skyhawks reclaimed a five point lead (76-71) with 2:21 remaining after two straight baskets from Logan. Holton, Jr., scored seven straight points to put the Purple Knights in front (78-76) on a three-pointer with 28-seconds to go. Bramanti was fouled with 14.8-seconds to play and made both around a Saint Michael's timeout to force the 12th tie of the game. Junior Corey Crawford II (Dover, Del./The Phelps School) missed a three-pointer at the other end to send the game to overtime.
Stonehill (3-8, 1-6 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits Adelphi University for a Northeast-10 matchup at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home to host Pace University next Saturday, January 11, in Merkert Gymnasium at 3:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (10-2, 5-2 NE-10) hosts Le Moyne College next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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