Purchase Tickets

Click here for live stats

Click here for live video

The Game
Stonehill College men's basketball hosts Quinnipiac University in the program's Division I home opener. The Skyhawks were a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference, which opened play in 1980, while Quinnipiac is a member of the MAAC Conference.

Media Information
Tonight's game is being broadcast live on Skyhawks Vision and NEC Front Row. Charlie Bergeron (PBP) and Brian Buckley (analyst) have the call of the action for tonight. Campus radio coverage by WSHL also available with Chris Cassidy and Anthony Bellomo on the call.

Against the Bobcats
Tonight marks the 42nd meeting between Stonehill and Quinnipiac where the Skyhawks have won the last three matchups. Stonehill holds a 23-18 advantage in the all-time series, with the last meeting coming at Merkert Gym on February 19, 1998, with Stonehill posting a 102-77 victory.

Last Time Out

The University of Connecticut held Stonehill to 25-percent shooting in the first half to build a 19-point halftime lead on its way to an 85-54 victory in the NCAA Division I debut for the Skyhawks inside the XL Center on Monday night. Stonehill, hung in in its Division I debut against the bigger UConn team. The Skyhawks were limited to 25 percent (6-for-24) shooting in the first half, but rebounded to connect at 47.6% (10-for-21) in the second. The Huskies took full advantage of a 46-22 scoring advantage in the point, finishing with eight blocked shots and forcing 24 Stonehill turnovers. Andrew Sims totaled 12 points (5-for-10), a rebound, assist and steal for Stonehill, while Isaiah Burnett totaled 12 points (6-for-9 FTs, 3-for-4 FGs), six rebounds, three steals, and an assist.

In Transition
Stonehill announced it had accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference and commence a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I membership on April 5. The Skyhawks started their four-year transition on July 1 and will earn full NCAA Division I membership in 2026-27. At the June NEC meetings, the Conference presidents announced a shift in the waiting period for automatic qualifier sports from competing for NEC postseason championships from four to two years, making Stonehill eligible to compete in the NEC postseason starting in 2024-25.

Proud History
Stonehill won the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup six times, finishing in the top three in the final standings 15 of the last 17 years. Stonehill was one of just ten institutions nationwide to receive the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Achievement, recognizing athletic departments with an Academic Success rating of 90-percent or better, each of the first ten years of the program's existence. The College ranks No. 98 in the category of National Liberal Arts Schools by U.S. News & World Report and No. 94 for the Best Value category.

Hoop History
Stonehill men's basketball earned 15 NCAA Division II Tournament bids over its history, the last was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Stonehill were charter members of the Northeast-10 Conference, winning the first two tournament championships in 1981 and '82, finishing its time in the Conference with four postseason titles and six regular season championships.

Preseason Prognostications
Stonehill was picked to finish ninth in its first Northeast Conference season by the league's head coaches. Merrimack received six of the eight first place votes to hold the pole position atop the preseason poll, followed by Sacred Heart with two first place votes. Saint Francis (Pa.) follows in third, while Wagner is picked fourth and received the final first place vote.  

Tough Slate
Stonehill has assembled a tough non-conference slate in its inaugural Division I season, featuring opponents from the Big East  (2 - UConn, Providence), ACC (1 - BC), Missouri Valley (3 - UIC, Bradley, Valpo), Patriot League (2 - Army, Holy Cross), America East (2 - UMass Lowell, Binghamton), MAAC (2 - Quinnipiac, Rider), A-10 (1 - Fordham) leading up to its inaugural NEC slate around the New Year. 12 of the Skyhawks 15 non-conference games will also be played on the road.  

Inside the Roster
Stonehill head coach Chris Kraus '06 returns ten letterwinners, including three starters from his 2021-22 team that finished 15-12, including 10-9 in the NE10, reaching the Conference quarterfinals.
Stonehill's inaugural Division I roster includes:
• Four fifth-year players
• Three new transfers, including two postgrad transfers
• Two Division I transfers, including fifth-year returnee Isaiah Burnett (Navy) and newcomer Thatcher Stone (William & Mary)
• No seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.

Home Cooking
Stonehill has won its last two home openers which featured a 78-69 triumph over the University of Bridgeport and a 78-70 victory over Saint Michael's College.

Hello, Old Friend
From 1987-1996, Quinnipiac was a member of the NE10 Conference where the Skyhawks and Bobcats squared off in 41 conference matchups including four NE10 Tournament games as the schools split the playoff matchups.

Getting Social
Fans and media members of Stonehill athletics have multiple social media outlets to get updates on all 23 varsity programs. The department's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/stonehillskyhawks, and you can also follow @GoStonehill on Twitter and @stonehillskyhawks via Instagram! You can also search for Stonehill men's basketball on Facebook, follow the team's Twitter account via @StonehillBball as well as head coach Chris Kraus @CoachChrisKraus, and its new Instagram feed @stonehillbball. 

Up Next
Stonehill is back in action on Saturday when it travels to Army West Point to kick off a six-game road trip starting at 1 p.m.