Twitty led the Skyhawks with a career-high 33 points. (PHOTO BY Greg Wall)

Twitty and Moreton combine for 59 points to lead Skyhawks

COLCHESTER, Vt. (November 17, 2018) – Stonehill College used a 20-4 run late in the second half to close out an 83-72 victory over Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Ross Sports Complex today.

Juniors Brandon Twitty and Will Moreton combined for 59 points to lead Stonehill to its first NE10 win of the year. Twitty scored a career-high 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field, including 5-for-10 from three-point range, while converting 6-of-8 free-throws, adding four steals and two assists. Moreton recorded his first double-double of the season (eighth career) with a season-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting, converting 8-of-11 free-throws, to go with a season-best 11 rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Owen Chose made 3-of-7 three-pointers to chip in nine points, with four boards and two assists.

Senior Levi Holmes III led four Saint Michael's players in double-figures with 22 points on 9-of-22 shooting, including 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, with nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Eli DiGrande added 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 2-for-3 from deep, off the bench, with nine rebounds and two blocks, while senior Derek Cheatom contributed 12 points. Sophomore Walker Storey rounded out the Purple Knights double figure scorers with 11 points, aided by 3-of-5 shooting from three, off the bench, while junior Jordan Guzman was the only other Purple Knight to score, chipping in eight points and six assists.

Stonehill came away from a back and forth first half with a two-point lead (41-39), when Twitty capped a 16-point first half with a three-pointer with 14-seconds to play. The two teams combined for just six points over the first four minutes of the second half, before Stonehill used an 11-2 run to grab a nine-point lead (52-43) after two Moreton free-throws just two minutes later. Moreton had six points in all during that stretch, while Twitty buried a three-pointer and had five points.

Moreton posted his first double-double of the year with season-highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds. (PHOTO BY Greg Wall)

Saint Michael's followed with a 14-3 run to regain the lead (61-59) after two Cheatom free-throws with nine minutes to play. Guzman scored six points and Storey connected on a three-pointer during the Purple Knights run.

Stonehill had the last say, however, using a 20-4 run over the next seven minutes to seize control. The Skyhawks started the run with 13-straight points, including seven by Moreton and a Chose triple, to grab an 11-point lead (72-61) after a Moreton layup with 4:34 remaining. Holmes III ended the run with a three-pointer, Stonehill would extend the lead to a game-high 14 (79-65) after a Twitty three with 2:38 remaining.

Saint Michael's did respond with seven-straight points over the next 50-seconds, sparked by another Holmes III triple, to close back within seven (79-72) after two DiGrande free-throws with 1:46 still to play. Stonehill closed the game out from there by converting four of six free-throws and holding the hosts scoreless the rest of the way.

Stonehill (2-2, 1-1 NE10) returns to action on Tuesday, when it visits nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College for an NE10 matchup at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Wednesday, November 28, host Merrimack College at 7:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (2-2, 0-2 NE10) hosts Franklin Pierce University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

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