Junior Carter Smith buried 5-of-6 three-pointers on his way to 19 points to go with six assists. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Skyhawks ride 55.6-percent shooting to fourth straight win 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (January 27, 2015) – Stonehill College, ranked tenth in this week's D2SIDA East Regional poll, posted a fourth straight win for the third time this season with a 69-57 victory at Le Moyne College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Ted Grant Court tonight.

Junior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led the way for Stonehill with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-for-6 from three-point range, with six assists. Classmate Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet) scored 17 first half points and finished shooting 5-for-9 from three-point range while converting both free-throw attempts to go with six assists, two rebounds and two steals. Senior Jack Cole (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) rounded out the Skyhawks double-figure scorers with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, a team-high seven rebounds and three blocked shots, while junior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) chipped in nine points and six boards.

Junior Qwadere Lovell (Mount Vernon, New York/Mount Vernon) led Le Moyne with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-20 shooting, while freshman Russell Sangster (Rockville, Maryland/Bullis School) was the only other Dolphin in double-figures with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field, while converting 5-of-6 free-throws with two rebounds and two blocked shots. Sophomore Stan Buczek (Port Jervis, New York/Burke Catholic) pulled down a game-high ten rebounds to go with seven points, two assists and four steals.

Junior Adam Bramanti scored all 17 of his points in the first half, connecting on 5-of-9 three-pointers. (PHOTO BY Paul W. Fitzgerald Photography)

Stonehill shot 55.6-percent (25-for-45) from the field for the night, including a white-hot 15-for-21 (71.4%) in a first half in which it buried 9-of-15 (60%) three-pointers. The Skyhawks finished 13-for-25 (52%) from beyond the arc and converted 6-of-8 (75%) free-throws in the game. Le Moyne shot 44.2-percent (23-for-52) from the field, including 48% (12-25) in the first half, connecting on just 3-of-11 (27.3%) three-pointers and making 8-of-11 (72.7%) free-throws.

Stonehill scored 11 straight points to turn a three point lead into a 14 point advantage (39-25) after a three-pointer from Cumpstone with 2:33 to play in the first half. The Skyhawks carried a 12 point lead into halftime (41-29), but Lovell scored the first six points of the second half to cut the Le Moyne deficit in half (41-35) after just 95-seconds. Stonehill answered by scoring seven of the next eight points to regain its 12 point cushion (48-36) after another Cumpstone triple four and a half minutes into the second half.

Le Moyne was able to trim the lead to eight points four times over the remainder of the half, but could get no closer as Stonehill kept its hosts at arm's length the rest of the way. Smith gave the Skyhawks a 14 point lead (65-51) with 5:18 remaining and the lead wouldn't dip below double figures again.

Stonehill scored four straight three-pointers, including three by Bramanti that turned a three-point Le Moyne lead (5-2) two and a half minutes into the game into a five point Skyhawks edge (14-9) with 13:40 left in the first half. A barrage of five three-pointers helped the Skyhawks open their 14 point first half lead.

Stonehill (13-6, 8-5 NE-10) returns home on Saturday to host The College of Saint Rose as part of Alumni Weekend at the College at 3:30 p.m. Le Moyne (12-8, 6-7 NE-10) visits Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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