Senior Carter Smith led the Skyhawks with 15 points. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

Golden Knights hold Skyhawks to season-low point total, less than 30-percent shooting  

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 30, 2016) – The College of Saint Rose limited Stonehill College, ranked fourth in this week's D2SIDA East Regional poll, under 30-percent shooting and a season-low point total in a 69-53 victory in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium tonight.

Junior Tyler Sayre (Garnerville, New York/Albertus Magnus) scored a game-high 24 points for Saint Rose on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, while converting 8-of-10 free-throws, to go with eight rebounds. Freshman Shane Herrity (Glendale, New York/Saint Francis Prep) added 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, converting 3-of-4 free-throws, with nine assists, four rebounds and two steals. Sophomores Mical-Ryan Boyd (Hempstead, New York/Long Island Lutheran) and Jack Jones (Sydney, Australia) each contributed eight points for the Golden Knights.

Senior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led Stonehill with 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-8 from three-point distance, converting 4-of-5 free-throws to go with two rebounds. Junior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) added 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while senior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) also collected nine boards and blocked two shots. Senior Daniel Brix (Monroe Township, New Jersey/Saint Joseph) chipped in eight first half points, with three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Saint Rose shot 45.5-percent from the field (25-for-55), including 47.8% (11-23) in the second half, connecting on 8-of-19 (42.1%) three-pointers and 11-of-14 (78.6%) free-throws. The Golden Knights also dominated with a 29-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Stonehill was limited to 29.6-percent shooting from the floor (16-for-54), including 25.9% (7-for-27) in the first half, making just 5-of-22 (22.7%) three-pointers and shooting 80% (16-of-20) from the line.

Junior Ryan Logan added 12 points and nine rebounds. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

Stonehill led by four (10-6) after two free-throws by Smith five minutes into the game when Saint Rose ran off 15 straight points to open an 11 point lead (21-10) after a Damon Coleman (Roosevelt, New York/Holy Trinity) three-pointer with 11-minutes left in the first half. The Golden Knights drained three three-pointers in all during the run.

The run extended to 20-2 as Saint Rose stretched its lead to 14 (26-12) after a Sayre free-throw with 8:27 remaining. Stonehill used a 9-2 push to close its gap to seven (28-21) after two free-throws from sophomore Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) with six minutes remaining in the half. The Golden Knights answered with eight straight points for a 15 point lead (36-21) on a three-pointer by sophomore Anthony Russell (Simsboro, Louisiana/Bridgton Academy) with 4:15 remaining before settling for an 11 point (38-27) halftime cushion.

Smith and Logan scored the first four points of the second half to pull Stonehill within seven (38-31). Saint Rose reclaimed a 12-point advantage (45-33) with a Sayre jumper four and a half minutes into the half, but the Skyhawks clawed back within six (45-39) on back to back Smith triples. Stonehill was still within eight (53-44) after another Smith three with 8:56 to play, but the Golden Knights sealed the win with nine straight points to open a 17 point gap (61-44) on a basket by Herrity with 5:26 to go.  

Stonehill (15-5, 10-4 NE-10) is back in action Wednesday when it hosts rival Bentley University for an NE-10 matchup at Merkert Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast by Easton Community Access Television on Friday, February 5, at 6 p.m. Saint Rose (9-11, 7-7 NE-10) hosts Le Moyne College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

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