Junior Ryan Logan had game high's of 15 points and 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double. (PHOTO BY Paul Fitzgerald)

Logan and Cumpstone double-doubles lead Skyhawks to third straight win 

EASTON, Mass. (December 2, 2015) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll and ranked third in the D2SIDA East Regional poll, pulled away in the second half to claim a 75-54 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Senior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) and junior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) each notched double-doubles to lead a balanced Stonehill effort. Logan posted game-highs of 15 points (11 first half) and 12 rebounds for his second straight and fourth double-double of the season (12^th career), adding six assists as he shot 6-for-12 from the field. Cumpstone contributed 14 points and ten rebounds off the bench for his third double-double of the season (seventh career) with two assists.

Junior Jimmy Walsh (Manasquan, New Jersey/Manasquan) scored ten of his 12 points in the second half to help Stonehill pull away, shooting 5-for-9 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, with seven rebounds. Senior Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet Regional) chipped in 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep, with three rebounds and two steals.

Junior Donte Gittens (Hartford, Connecticut/The Master's School) was the lone Franklin Pierce player in double figures with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, converting 8-of-14 free-throws, with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Senior Tyler Iacuone (Mahopac, New York/Archbishop Stepinac) added nine points and three assists, while sophomore Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) chipped in seven points and seven boards.

Senior Pierce Cumpstone added his third double-double of the season for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Eamonn Grealish)

Stonehill finished shooting 45-percent (27-for-60) from the field, including 51.7% (15-for-29) in the second half when it connected on 6-of-11 (54.5%) three-pointers. The Skyhawks held a 46-35 rebounding advantage, including 27-14 in the second half, and held a 13-9 edge in points off turnovers and a 25-15 scoring lead in bench points. Franklin Pierce was limited to 33.9% (20-for-59) shooting, including 9-for-29 (31%) in the second half, making just 5-of-22 (22.7%) three-pointers.

Stonehill overcame a slow start which saw Franklin Pierce score seven of the first nine points, scoring ten straight to take a five point lead (12-7) after a Cumpstone three-pointer five and a half minutes into the game. The Skyhawks stretched their lead to ten (26-16) with 4:28 remaining in the opening half after four straight points from senior Josh Heyliger (Queens, New York/The Hill School). Franklin Pierce closed the half with a 10-3 spurt to draw within three at the half (29-26) when junior Matt Banton (Brooklyn, New York/Transit Tech) capped the opening half with a three-pointer.

Franklin Pierce was able to pull even three times over the first four minutes of the second half, but Stonehill reeled off a 12-2 run over a three-minute stretch to reclaim its ten point lead (44-34) after a Walsh triple with 13:48 to play. Walsh had two three-pointers during that stretch, while Cumpstone chipped in four points.

Stonehill extended its lead to 14 (54-40) on a Bramanti three-pointer just past the midway point of the half, but Franklin Pierce was able to close back within eight (57-49) after two Gittens free-throws with 5:41 remaining. The Ravens were still within nine (64-54) with three minutes to play, but the Skyhawks scored the final 12 points of the contest, led by a pair of Bramanti three balls, to close out their third straight win.

Stonehill (6-1, 3-1 NE-10) returns to action here at Merkert Gym on Saturday when it hosts Saint Michael's College for an NE-10 matchup at 3:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (3-2, 2-1 NE-10) visits Assumption College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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