Moreton again leads four starters in double-figures as Skyhawks shoot 63% in second half
Moreton posted his third-straight 20-point game to move closer to the 1,000-point plateau. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
EASTON, Mass. (December 8, 2018) – Stonehill College shot 63-percent from the field in the second half to pull away for a 78-64 victory over Southern New Hampshire University, ranked No. 10 in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Stonehill placed four starters in double-figures in posting its third-straight win and fifth over its last six to close out the first third of its NE10 slate. Junior Will Moreton posted his third-straight 20-point outing (15th career) to move within 32 points of becoming the program's 40th 1,000-point scorer with 968 points in 67 career games. He made 7-of-14 shots from the field, including 4-for-7 from three-point distance, on his way to a team-best 20 points, including 13 in the second half, to go with nine points, two assists and two steals.
Stonehill connected on 63-percent of its shots (17-for-27) in the second half, including 7-for-12 (58.3%) from long-range, to finish shooting 54.4% overall.
Sophomore Owen Chose added a career-high 19 points for Stonehill on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5-for-7 from beyond the arc, while junior Brandon Twitty totaled 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 2-for-3 from deep, with five assists. Senior Michael Boen rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Skyhawks with a career-high 13 points, seven boards (four offensive), and four assists.
Senior Daquaise Andrews scored a game-high 23 points for Southern New Hampshire on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, converting all four free-throws with six assists and two steals. Junior Shawn Montaque added 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, and six rebounds, while senior Charlie Russo recorded 11 points, three assists and two blocks.
Stonehill led start to finish, scoring the first six points of the game, four from senior Joel Berroa. The Skyhawks held a one-point lead (13-12) after an Andrews layup with 11:25 remaining in the opening half, but fired off 12-straight points, sparked by consecutive three-pointers from Chose, who scored eight points in all during the run, to open a 13-point lead (25-12) with 7:02 remaining in the half.
Chose canned five three-pointers on his way to a career-best 19 points (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
Stonehill extended its lead to 14 (28-14) with a Twitty three a minute later and the cushion was still 13 (31-18) after a Twitty jumper with 4:30 left in the half. SNHU capped the half by outscoring the Skyhawks 12-2 over the final four and a half minutes to draw back within three (33-30) following a Montague triple heading into the lockerroom. Andrews hit a pair of threes to spark the run for the Penmen.
Stonehill started fast again in the second half, using a 10-2 spurt to reclaim a 12-point lead (46-34) after a Chose three 3:38 in. SNHU pulled back within five again (48-43) after a triple from freshman Justyn Lacy with 13:20 to go. The Skyhawks surged back in front by 11 (57-46) with another Chose three with 9:09 to play, but the Penmen responded again, pulling within five (57-52) with 7:46 still to play, during a run of 11-straight points scored by Andrews.
Stonehill closed the game out from there, using a 12-0 run to open a 17-point lead (71-54) with 3:25 remaining after five-straight points apiece from Chose, including a three-pointer to push the lead back into double-digits, and then Moreton. SNHU was able to creep back within nine (73-64) after a Russo three with 49-seconds to play, but would get no closer.
Stonehill (7-4, 4-3 NE10) is off until next Sunday, December 16, when it resumes its five game home stand by hosting Concordia (N.Y.) College for a non-conference matchup to conclude the first semester schedule at 3:30 p.m. SNHU (5-5, 2-4 NE10) hosts Franklin Pierce University next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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