Bess netted a team-high 18 points off the bench for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Rodwell nets game-high 27 points for Chargers, including go-ahead three in OT

EASTON, Mass. (November 10, 2017) – Dominican (N.Y.) College overcame a 14-point second half deficit to force overtime and then strung together three-straight three-pointers to spark a season-opening 86-83 triumph over Stonehill College on day one of the 2017 Stonehill Tip-Off Classic on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Sophomore Daraja Rodwell (Baldwin, New York/Baldwin) led five Dominican players in double-figures with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5-for-9 from three-point distance, with five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Freshman Michael Richardson (Hackensack, New Jersey/Hackensack) added 15 points, burying 4-of-7 three-pointers, sandwiching a Rodwell triple with two of his own during a key stretch of overtime in which the Chargers turned a four point deficit (77-73) with 2:52 remaining into a five-point lead (82-77) with 1:30 to go, which proved to be the difference.

Sophomore Daniel Grant (Middletown, New York/Middletown) toyed with a triple-double for Dominican with 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while juniors Sayon Charles (Staten Island, New York/Xaverian) and Ian Gardener (Norwalk, Connecticut/Kolbe Catholic) each added 11 points for the Chargers, while Gardener also collected eight boards.

Senior Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) led five Stonehill players in double-figures with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, while draining all five free-throws, to go with seven rebounds and two steals. Sophomores Will Moreton (Minneapolis, Minnesota/Edina), Dan Largey (Oceanport, New Jersey/Peddie School) and Brandon Twitty (Randolph, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) each added 13 points for the Skyhawks, with Moreton also contributing eight rebounds and two assists. Largey also pulled down eight boards, while Twitty had six and two steals.

Senior KJ Lee (Huntington Station, New York/Long Island Lutheran) rounded out the Stonehill double-figure scorers with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while senior Joel Berroa (Lawrence, Massachusetts/Bridgton Academy) snared a game-high ten boards, and classmate Ryan Roach (Weymouth, Massachusetts/Cardinal Spellman) dished out nine assists.

Moreton totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Stonehill held a seven point halftime lead (34-27), and after Rodwell opened the second half with a three-pointer, the Skyhawks reeled off a 12-2 run to grab a 14-point advantage (46-32) after a three-point play from Lee, three and a half minutes into the frame. The Skyhawks lead was ten (49-39) three minutes later, when a Grant layup and Rodwell triple cut Dominican's lead in half (49-44) with 12:22 remaining.

Dominican pulled even (57-57) after a Rodwell layup with 7:42 to play, but Stonehill restored a six-point cushion (65-59) after two Bess free-throws with four minutes left. The Chargers closed within a point (68-67) when Gardener followed up his own miss with less than a minute to play. Moreton followed a Largey missed three with a put-back dunk with 32-seconds remaining, but Rodwell sent the game to overtime with a deep three from the right side with five-seconds left.

Stonehill grabbed a quick four point lead (77-73) after two Largey free-throws two minutes into the overtime, but Richardson and Rodwell combined to bury three-straight triples to put Dominican in front for good (82-77) with 1:30 remaining. The Skyhawks took advantage of four missed free-throws by the Chargers to draw within a possession three times in the final minute, but a Grant offensive rebound was key for the visitors and then a desperation three by Largey at the buzzer was off the mark.

Stonehill (0-1, 0-0 NE10) will look to bounce back tomorrow, when it faces Bloomfield College (1-0, 0-0 CACC) on day two of the Tip-Off Classic at 6 p.m. The Bears dealt Assumption College an 85-71 setback in today's opening game. Dominican (1-0, 0-0 CACC) will face Assumption at 4 p.m.

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