Men's Basketball Knocks Off #14/18 and Unbeaten SNHU, 107-98


Moreton scored 21 of his career-high 29 points in the first half, adding seven rebounds and two assists. (PHOTO BY SportsPix)

Moreton and Roach career-highs fire Skyhawks to third-straight victory and second win over nationally ranked opponent this season

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 9, 2017) – Stonehill College shot nearly 64-percent from the floor on its way to its third-straight win with a 107-98 triumph over previously unbeaten Southern New Hampshire University, ranked No. 14 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll and 18th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, marking the Skyhawks second win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Career-high scoring nights from sophomore Will Moreton (Minneapolis, Minnesota/Edina) and senior Ryan Roach (Weymouth, Massachusetts/Cardinal Spellman) led three 20-point scorers for Stonehill, which placed four players in double-figures overall. Moreton made 11-of-14 shots from the field, including 5-for-6 from three-point distance, for a career-high 29 points, including 21 in the first half, to go with seven rebounds and two assists, while Roach made 7-of-12 shots from the floor and 9-of-11 free-throws for a career-best 24 points, scoring 21 in the second half, with four rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore Brandon Twitty (Randolph, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) netted 20-plus points for the second-straight game and third time over four contests, with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point distance, with three boards and two assists. Freshman Owen Chose (Eden Prairie, Minnesota/Eden Prairie) rounded out the Skyhawks double-figure scorers with a season-high 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, with two assists.


Roach finished with a career-best 24 points, including 21 in the second half as the Skyhawks pulled away for their third straight win. (PHOTO BY SportsPix)

Stonehill finished shooting a season-high 63.8-percent from the field, including 70.4% (19-for-27) in the second half, connecting on 13-of-21 three-pointers (61.9%), including 6-for-9 (66.7%) over the final 20-minutes. In addition to its two wins over nationally-ranked teams this season (75-73 vs. #19/22 Saint Thomas Aquinas, Nov. 26), Stonehill has now won three-straight over ranked teams overall, including two-straight against SNHU (81-68 vs. #18/23), dating back to a 79-73 setback at #6/7 STAC last November. The Skyhawks also ended SNHU's 21-game regular season home win streak that dated back to February 2016, posting the first 100-point game by a Penmen opponent since Merrimack netted 101 in 2009 and the most they have allowed since Keene State scored 108 in 1992.

Postgrad Chris Walters (Stamford, Connecticut/St. Thomas More) and junior Daquaise Andrews (Queens, New York/Thomas Jefferson) combined for 66 points, scoring over 30 points and posting a pair of double-doubles to lead Southern New Hampshire. Andrews scored a game-high 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting, converting 10-of-15 free-throws, to go with ten rebounds, while Walters shot 10-of-18 from the floor, including 2-of-4 three-pointers, while converting 9-of-10 free-throws for 31 points and a game-high 11 rebounds (six offensive), four assists, two blocked shots and a steal. Senior Dimitri Floras (Merrimack, New Hampshire/Merrimack) rounded out the Penmen in double-figures with 14 points and four assists.

After a back and forth opening half that finished deadlocked at 49-49, Stonehill used a 19-7 run fueled by three-pointers by Chose, Moreton and senior Paul Graves (Marion, Massachusetts/Old Rochester Regional) to take an 11 point lead (73-62) after a Twitty jumper with 13:25 to play. The Skyhawks lead was eight (82-74) with 9:35 remaining, when they outscored SNHU 17-8 over the next five minutes to open a decisive 17-point advantage (97-80) following a Twitty jumper with 4:48 left. Roach scored eight points during that stretch, including a conventional and long-range three-pointer, while Chose added a triple as well.

SNHU wouldn't go down quietly, applying pressure to pull within six (103-97) after an Andrews layup with 54-seconds remaining, but would get no closer. Stonehill converted 7-of-9 free-throws, including 7-of-8 from Roach, over the final 2:22 to keep the Penmen at arm's length and complete the win. 

Stonehill (5-5, 4-3 NE10) is off until after the holiday break, when it visits the University of Bridgeport, receiving votes in both national polls, for a non-conference matchup on Saturday, December 30, at 2 p.m. The Skyhawks do not return to Merkert Gym until Wednesday, January 3, to host American International College for an NE10 battle at 7:30 p.m. Southern N.H. (9-1, 6-1 NE10) visits Florida Southern College on December 30 at 4 p.m.

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