Bess netted a career-high 24 points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Bess and Logan combine for 47 points as Skyhawks complete season sweep of Falcons
WALTHAM, Mass. (February 1, 2017) – Stonehill College posted its highest point total in nine years and completed a regular season series sweep of rival Bentley University with a 108-101 overtime triumph in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Dana Athletic Center tonight.
Senior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) and junior Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) combined for 47 points to lead four Stonehill players in double-figures as the Skyhawks scored over 100 points for the first time since its 103-101 overtime win at Adelphi University in last year's NE10 Tournament. The 108 points are the Skyhawks highest point total since a 114-113 loss to Columbus State University at the Disney Tip-Off Classic on November 11, 2007.
The win also completes a key regular season series sweep of rival Bentley as the two teams came into the game tied for the fifth and final spot from the Northeast Division for the upcoming NE10 Tournament. Stonehill, now tied with Saturday's opponent Franklin Pierce University for fourth place in the Division, is a game ahead of the Falcons and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with six games to play. The Skyhawks are two games behind Saint Anselm College for third place and a first round bye.
Bess scored a career-high 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, while converting 11-of-12 free-throws to go with two rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Logan posted his tenth 20-point game of the season (28th career) with his 16th-straight double-figure scoring game as he finished with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, while converting 7-of-8 free-throws to go with four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Logan's two three-pointers give him 130 three-point field goals for his career – just one shy of tenth place on the program's career list, while also moving within 36 points of fifth place on the program's all-time scoring list.
Freshman Will Moreton (Minneapolis, Minnesota/Edina) posted his first career double-double for Stonehill as he added a season-high 19 points and season-best 14 rebounds on 8-of-13 shooting, including 2-for-3 from deep. Freshman Brandon Twitty (Randolph, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) rounded out the Skyhawks in double-figures with 13 points, draining 3-of-5 threes, while junior KJ Lee (Huntington Station, New York/Long Island Lutheran) chipped in nine points, eight boards and five assists with no turnovers for the second straight game (fourth time this season overall), draining a free-throw with 0.7-seconds to play to send the game to overtime.
Logan moved closer to the top five all-time in scoring at Stonehill with his 23 points. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Bentley squandered a game-high 39 point effort from sophomore Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ontario/Williston-Northampton) on 16-of-28 shooting, including 4-for-8 from three-point distance, converting 3-for-4 free-throws with three rebounds, three assists and a steal as all five Falcons starters scored in double figures. Classmate Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) added 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, with three assists and two rebound, while junior Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Connecticut/Cheshire Academy) registered 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Seniors Matt Barr (Stratham, New Hampshire/Cushing Academy) and Ferguson Duke (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia/The Hun School) each scored ten points, with Duke adding a team-high eight boards, two assists and three steals, while Barr dished out four assists.
Both teams shot over 50-percent from the field, with Stonehill connecting at 53.7-percent (36-for-67), including a red-hot 11-of-19 (57.9%) from three-point distance, converting 25-of-31 free-throws (80.6%). The Skyhawks outscored Bentley 19-12 in the overtime period, connecting on 14-of-18 free-throws (77.8%) in the extra period alone, finishing the night with a 43-28 rebounding advantage. Bentley finished shooting 52.8-percent from the field (52.8%), including 14-for-26 (56%) from deep, converting 11-of-17 free-throws (64.7%). The Falcons made just 4-of-10 shots in the overtime frame, including 1-of-5 from long range after going 13-for-20 (65%) from outside the arc during regulation.
Stonehill emerged from a game that included 14 ties and 15 lead changes for its second straight win. The Skyhawks overcame a ten-point deficit (63-53) in the opening minutes of the second half, while holding off Bentley down the stretch after leading by five (86-81) with three minutes remaining after Logan made one of two at the line. Baskets by Gilpin and Richmond pulled Bentley back within one (86-85) with 1:26 to play, however Stonehill answered with two Logan free-throws, before Gilpin and Richmond pushed the Falcons back on top (89-88) with five seconds to go. Lee was fouled on a putback with 0.7-seconds remaining, and made the second of his two free-throws after missing the first to force overtime.
Much like the first 40 minutes, the overtime period opened with both teams going back and forth until Twitty buried a three-pointer to give Stonehill a four point lead (98-94) with 1:43 remaining. The triple sparked a six point spurt for the Skyhawks to open a seven point cushion (101-94) after Moreton made one of two free-throws with 46-seconds left.
Richmond scored a layup and then converted a three-point play with 21-seconds left after Bess split two free-throws to draw Bentley back within a possession (102-99), but Bess would convert all six free-throw attempts from there to seal the win for Stonehill.
Stonehill (12-9, 7-8 NE10) returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Franklin Pierce at Merkert Gymnasium as part of Alumni Weekend at the College at 3:30 p.m. Bentley (9-11, 6-9 NE10) visits Assumption College on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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