Senior Pierce Cumpstone poured in a career-high 27 points to go with 15 rebounds for his tenth career double-double. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

Skyhawks bury 16 three-pointers at 55.2-percent clip  

Senior forward Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) led five Stonehill players in double-figures with his sixth double-double of the season (tenth career) by scoring a career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field, including 5-for-7 from three-point distance, with 15 rebounds and two steals. Junior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) added 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting, with four rebounds and five assists, while senior Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet Regional) netted 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, with four boards and two assists.

Sophomore Joel Berroa (Lawrence, Massachusetts/Central Catholic) made all six of his shots from the field, including a pair of threes, for a career-high 14 points and three rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. Senior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) rounded out Stonehill's double-figure scorers with 11 points and five assists.

Stonehill finished shooting 56.1-percent from the field (37-for-66), including 16-for-29 (55.2%) from three-point distance, connecting on 58.1% (18-31) of its shots in the second half, including 10-for-14 (71.4%) from beyond the arc. The Skyhawks posted a 33-27 rebounding edge, resulting in a 19-11 advantage in second chance points, outscoring Bentley 11-2 in points off turnovers. Stonehill turned the ball over just seven times, compared to ten for the Falcons.

Senior Adam Bramanti canned five three-pointers for 17 points tonight. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

Senior Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills) led Bentley with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-for-7 from deep, converting 4-for-5 free-throws with a team-high eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Postgrad Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland) added 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, converting 3-of-4 free-throws, with three assists, while freshman Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ontario/Williston-Northampton) chipped in 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Bentley shot 47.3-percent from the field (26-for-55), including 44.4% (12-27) in the second half, but was limited to just 8-for-26 (30.8%) from long range, while converting 11-of-15 (73.3%) of its free-throws.

Bentley jumped out to a six point lead (12-6) after a Hyland triple 6:26 into the first half. Stonehill responded with a 12-3 run to take the lead (18-15) on a Berroa three-pointer at the midway point of the half. The Skyhawks stretched their lead out to seven (30-23) with 6:19 remaining in the half after back to back threes by Cumpstone. Stonehill extended its lead to 13 (40-27) following a tip-in from Logan with 2:36 to go in the half before taking a ten point cushion (44-34) into halftime.

Hyland connected from deep to open the second half scoring and draw Bentley within seven, but Stonehill answered with a 10-2 push to run its lead to 15 (54-39) on a Berroa layup less than five minutes in. The Falcons trimmed the lead to 11 (59-48) with a McFarland layup with 12:53 to play, when the Skyhawks outscored the guests 13-5 over the next three-plus minutes to extend their lead to 19 (72-53) with a Bramanti three.

Stonehill's lead wouldn't dip below 17 the rest of the way, extending its advantage to 22 (77-55) with a Cumpstone layup with 8:33 remaining. The Skyhawks lead peaked at 23 twice down the stretch before settling for the 21 point winning margin.

Stonehill (16-5, 11-4 NE-10) looks to keep building momentum when it visits Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym next Tuesday, February 9, to host Merrimack College at 7:30 p.m. Bentley (15-5, 12-3 NE-10) hosts Assumption College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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