Sophomore Pierce Cumpstone scored 18 of his career-high 24 points in the first half to help lead the Skyhawks to a 22 point halftime lead. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Cumpstone & Bramanti lead Skyhawks past century mark for first time since 2007 

EASTON, Mass. (January 18, 2014) – Stonehill College opened a 22 point lead by halftime and didn't look back in posting a 102-66 triumph over Concordia (N.Y.) College in non-conference men's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Sophomores Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) and Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet Regional) led Stonehill to its first 100-point scoring output in over six years with career-high scoring efforts this afternoon. Cumpstone matched his previous career-best with 18 first half points on his way to a career and game-high 24 points in 23 minutes off the bench on 10-of-15 shooting from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, while converting his lone free-throw to go with a team-high matching seven rebounds, two assists and season-best three blocked shots. He made 8-of-10 shots in the first half, including 2-of-4 threes.

Bramanti scored ten of his career-high matching 18 points in the second half as he finished shooting 6-of-8 from the field, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 2-for-2 at the line with a career-best seven rebounds, two assists and personal best four steals. Freshman Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) added 15 points (13 second half) on 5-of-7 shooting, including his lone three-point attempt, while making 4-of-6 free-throws with four boards. Sophomore Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) rounded out the Skyhawks double-figure scorers with ten points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-4 from long distance, with five assists, two rebounds and a steal.

Stonehill surpassed the century mark in points for the first time since a 114-113 shootout loss to Columbus State University at the Disney Tip-Off Classic on November 11, 2007, while it marks the Skyhawks first win with 100-plus points since a 103-80 triumph over Concordia here at Merkert Gym on December 28, 1999. Stonehill finished shooting 48.6-percent (36-for-74) from the field, including 51.3% (20-39) during the first half in building a 22-point (50-28) halftime bulge. The Skyhawks were 13-for-31 (41.9%) from three-point range, including 6-for-13 (46.2%) in the second half, and converted 17-of-20 (85%) free-throw attempts. Stonehill held a 49-31 rebounding advantage, posting an 18-8 scoring break in second chance points, while outscoring Concordia 24-12 in points off turnovers.

Sophomore Adam Bramanti drilled all four three-point attempts on his way to a career-high matching 18 points. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Sophomore Jamie Holder (Milford, N.H./Notre Dame Prep) led four Concordia players in double-figures with 19 points on 7-of-20 shooting from the field, while converting 4-of-5 free-throws, to go with six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Freshman Rome Jenkins (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) added 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot, while senior Norman Pope (Washington, D.C./St. John's College) registered 11 points, four rebounds and four steals. Junior Tshyrad Oates (Union City, N.J./The Robinson School) chipped in ten points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, and three rebounds.

Concordia shot 42.2-percent (27-for-64) from the field, but just 6-for-18 (33.3%) from three-point distance, and made 6-of-11 (54.5%) free-throws for the day.

Stonehill never trailed, racing out to a ten point lead (12-2) after a Smith three-pointer less than four minutes into the contest. Concordia pulled back within six (12-6) with 14:46 to play in the first half after a basket by Pope. The teams traded baskets until Stonehill scored seven straight to push the lead to 13 (27-14) after a fastbreak dunk from Cumpstone with 11:08 left in the half.

Stonehill extended the lead to 16 (32-16) with a Bramanti three with 9:16 to go in the half and then pushed the edge to 19 (40-21) with 5:42 remaining after back to back baskets from Cumpstone. The Skyhawks lead reached 21 (44-23) on another fastbreak slam from Cumpstone 3:42 before the intermission and reached 24 (50-26) following two free-throws by senior Mitch Amelio (Carlsbad, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) with 1:46 to play in the half before settling on the 22 point (50-28) halftime advantage.

Concordia scored the first four points of the second half to draw within 18 (50-32) after a Jenkins layup 1:05 in, but that would prove to be the Clippers smallest deficit of the final 20 minutes. Stonehill's first four baskets of the second half came from three-point land; the final two from Bramanti for a 23 point lead (62-39) five minutes in. The second Bramanti triple sparked a 14-2 run that pushed the lead to 32 (73-41) after a jumper from sophomore Stuart McEwen (Sydney, Australia) with 12:49 remaining.

Stonehill's lead reached as high as 38 (96-58) after Cumpstone's final three of the day with 5:05 on the clock. A highlight of the closing minutes were the first four points of senior co-captain Ryan Hayes' (Canton, Mass./Saint Sebastian's) career as he made a pair of free-throws with 48-seconds to go and then added a layup with 16 ticks left.

Stonehill (5-10, 2-8 NE-10) hits the road on Wednesday when it returns to Northeast-10 Conference play at Southern Connecticut State University at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Saturday, January 25, to host the University of New Haven at 3:30 p.m. The College will honor its 1989 NE-10 Championship winning team as well as formally induct Jon Cronin, '92, into the NE-10 Hall of Fame. Concordia (2-14, 2-7 CACC) hosts Chestnut Hill College next Saturday at 3 p.m.

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