Senior Carter Smith scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to help the Skyhawks seal a fifth straight win. (PHOTO BY Paul Fitzgerald)

Skyhawks shoot 56% (8-for-11 from three) to close out fifth-straight win  

EASTON, Mass. (December 9, 2015) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll and ranked second in the D2SIDA East Regional poll, closed out an 83-71 victory over The College of Saint Rose with a late second half run in non-conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Senior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led five Stonehill players in double-figures as he scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, while converting all four free-throws to go with four assists, three steals and two rebounds. The 20 points move him within 18 points of becoming the 38^th 1,000-point scorer in program history.

Junior Jimmy Walsh (Manasquan, New Jersey/Manasquan) added 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, with four rebounds, while senior Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet) poured in 16 second half points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 4-for-7 from behind the arc, four rebounds and two assists. Junior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) contributed 11 points, six assists and five rebounds, while senior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) rounded out the double-figure scorers with ten points, a team-high seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Junior Tyler Sayre (Garnerville, New York/Albertus Magnus) led four Saint Rose players in double-figures with 19 points (12 first half) on 8-of-12 shooting, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, with five rebounds. Freshman Pharroh Gordon (Manchester, England) added 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and a game-high nine rebounds with two assists, while senior Max Weaver (Loudonville, New York/CBA) registered 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-for-4 from deep, and four boards. Freshman Shane Herrity (Glendale, New York/St. Francis Prep) chipped in ten points on 4-of-8 shooting, five assists and three rebounds (all offensive).

Senior Adam Bramanti scored 16 second half points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Eamonn Grealish)

Stonehill finished shooting 49.1-percent (26-for-53) from the field, including 56% (14-25) in the second half when it buried 8-of-11 from three-point range (72.7%). The Skyhawks shot 48.1% (13-27) from beyond the arc overall and converted 18-of-24 (75%) free-throws, including 17-22 (77.3%) over the final 20 minutes. The Skyhawks were on the short end of a 10-2 spread in points off turnovers at halftime, but took advantage of 13 second half turnovers for Saint Rose for a 13-3 advantage in points off over the final 20 minutes, committing just five of their 12 turnovers in the final half.

Saint Rose shot 50-percent overall (29-for-58), including 59.3% (16-for-27) in the second half, converting 10-of-22 (45.5%) three-pointers in the contest, including 7-of-11 (64.6%) over the closing 20 minutes. The Golden Knights went to the line just six times on the night, converting three (50%).

Saint Rose held a one point halftime lead (31-30) after closing out the first half with a 10-2 run sparked by back to back three-pointers from Weaver and sophomore Anthony Russell (Simsboro, Louisiana/Bridgton Academy). Weaver opened the second half with another triple and then back to back threes by Bramanti reversed a three-point Golden Knights lead less than five minutes in.

Gordon forced the seventh tie of the night (52-52) with a three-pointer with 8:51 to play, but Smith answered with a three of his own to put Stonehill back in front. Stonehill's lead was a point (58-57) after Saint Rose freshman Shane Herrity (Glendale, New York/St. Francis Prep) made one of two at the free-throw line with 5:11 to play, but the Skyhawks took over from there, reeling off 12 straight points to open a 13 point lead (70-57) after a Walsh layup with 2:18 on the clock. Smith and Walsh both netted five points during that stretch, with a three-pointer each. Saint Rose trimmed the lead to nine on two occasions in the final 1:23, but Stonehill converted its final eight free-throws to seal its fifth straight win.

Stonehill led by as much as ten (22-12) midway through the first half after a 15-5 run sparked by three-pointers from Smith, Walsh and sophomore Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) before Saint Rose rallied for the halftime lead. The Golden Knights never led by more than four, while the Skyawks lead peaked at 14 in the closing seconds.

Stonehill (8-1, 4-1 NE-10), off to an 8-1 start for the first time since 2005, returns to NE-10 play on Saturday when it visits Southern New Hampshire University for a big early season test at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks will play their next four games on the road before returning to Merkert Gym after the New Year to host Le Moyne College on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose (5-4, 3-2 NE-10) hosts Adelphi University for an NE-010 matchup on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook.