Stonehill Shoots Past Adelphi, 83-61


Junior Pierce Cumpstone scored 15 of his season-high 17 points in the first half to lead the Skyhawks to a 20 point halftime lead. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Skyhawks ride 57-percent shooting to fourth straight win 

EASTON, Mass. (January 7, 2015) – Stonehill College has its second four game winning streak of the season after firing its way to an 83-61 victory over Adelphi University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Stonehill shot over 56-percent in each half, finishing at 57.4-percent (35-for-61) overall, including 56.3-percent (18-for-32) in the first half as it raced to a 20 point (42-22) halftime lead. The Skyhawks connected on 5-of-11 (45.5%) three-pointers in the opening frame and outrebounded Adelphi 23-12 over the opening 20 minutes, allowing just one offensive rebound, on their way to a 39-27 rebounding advantage overall. Adelphi shot just 37.9-percent (22-for-58) overall, including 25.9% (7-for-27) in the first half, and connected on 11-of-27 (40.7%) three-pointers.

Junior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) scored 15 of his season-high 17 points in the first half, shooting 7-for-12 from the field (6-of-9 first half) to go with three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 20 minutes off the bench. He led a Stonehill reserve unit which outscored the Adelphi bench 39-7 overall, including 28-3 in the first half. Sophomore Jimmy Walsh (Manasquan, New Jersey/Manasquan) added 11 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting, including 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, with a team-high eight rebounds, two assists and blocked shot and steal. Junior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) scored all 11 of his points in the second half to go with six rebounds and two assists, while senior Jack Cole (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) chipped in ten points, five boards and two assists.


Sophomore Jimmy Walsh added 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Senior Duane Morgan (West Orange, New Jersey/West Orange) scored 13 of his team-high 17 points after halftime to lead Adelphi, shooting 8-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-2 from three-point range, with seven rebounds and two steals. Junior Anthony Libroia (Bayside, New York/Holy Cross) also netted 17 points for the Panthers, connecting on all six free-throws, to go with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore Damon Coleman (Roosevelt, New York/Holy Trinity) added 11 points, shooting 3-for-3 from three-point range, with four assists and two steals.

Stonehill led by two (18-16) after a Libroia three-pointer with 7:44 to play in the second half before outscoring Adelphi 24-6 for the remainder of the half to claim a 20 point (42-22) halftime lead. Walsh and Cumpstone capped a 13-0 run with back to back three-pointers that pushed the lead to 15 (31-16). Cumpstone scored ten points in all over the final seven minutes of the half to key the Skyhawks stretch, hitting a jumper with 1:20 to go that put Stonehill up 20 for the first time (39-19).

Stonehill looked poised to seal things quickly in the second half as it ran its lead to a game-high 26 (51-25) with a layup by sophomore Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) 2:12 in. Adelphi reeled off a 12-2 run over the next two and a half minutes to cut the lead to 16 (53-37) on a three-pointer from freshman Michael Coffey (Monroe, New York/John S. Burke) with 15:14 remaining. After a Cumpstone jumper, the Panthers followed with a 14-2 run to get back within six (57-51) after a Morgan layup with 9:48 still to play.

Stonehill held from there, scoring the next 19 points to regain control and a 25 point lead (76-51) after a Smith layup with 5:09 to go that finally sealed things. Smith had nine points in all during that stretch and the Skyhawks were able to regain their 26 point margin (81-55) after a three-pointer by junior Stuart McEwen (Sydney, Australia/Saint Thomas More) with 2:44 to play.

Stonehill (9-4, 5-3 NE-10) hits the road on Saturday when it visits Pace University for an NE-10 matchup at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, January 17, to host Bloomfield College for a non-conference clash at Merkert Gym at 2 p.m. Adelphi (4-9, 1-6 NE-10) hosts Saint Anselm College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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