Balanc leads balanced Bobcats with 20 points
Zegarowski scored 17 of his career-high 25 points after halftime to lead four Skyhawks in double-figures (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
EASTON, Mass. (November 10, 2022) – Quinnipiac University shot nearly 51-percent from the floor and connected on 15 three-pointers as it pulled away down the stretch for a 102-95 victory over Stonehill College in the first NCAA Division I men's basketball game played at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.
Quinnipiac buried 15-of-29 (51.7-percent) three-pointers and finished shooting 50.8-percent (33-for-65) from the floor overall in the first meeting between the two programs since 1998. The Bobcats also finished with a 39-30 rebounding edge, with the bench outscoring the Stonehill reserves 46-29.
Senior Matt Balanc led seven Quinnipiac players in double-figures in the balanced effort with 20 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Postgrad Max Zegarowski paced four from Stonehill in double-digits with a career-high 25 points, including 17 in the second half, with a team-high eight rebounds, a blocked shot and steal.
Leaders
Stonehill
Sims added a season-high 24 points for the Skyhawks, posting his ninth career 20-point game (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
Zegarowski: Career-high 25 points (6-for-12, 4-for-6 three-pointers, 9-for-10 free-throws), eight rebounds, blocked shot and steal.
Andrew Sims Fifth-year, Forward: Season-high 24 points (8-for-13, 8-for-9 FTs), four rebounds, three assists, blocked shot.
Shamir Johnson Fifth-year, Guard: Career-high 14 points (all first half), 4-for-9 three-pointers, two rebounds, three assists, steal.
Isaiah Burnett Fifth-year, Guard: 12 points (6-for-12), four rebounds, four assists, two steals, blocked shot.
Quinnipiac
Balanc: 20 points (7-for-15, 3-for-8 threes), four rebounds, three assists, steal.
Dezi Jones Junior, Guard: 17 points (4-for-9, 3-for-6 threes, 6-for-6 FTs), five assists, three steals.
Luis Kortright Junior Guard: 14 points (4-for-4 threes), five rebounds, five assists, steal.
Johnson scored all 14 of his career-high point total in the first half (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
How it Happened
- Quinnipiac held a three-point halftime lead after the two teams combined to bury 17-of-32 (53.1-percent) three-pointers.
- Stonehill held a five-point lead (20-15) after a Burnett layup off his own steal six minutes into the game.
- Quinnipiac followed with a 15-1 run over the next three-pointer, buoyed by a pair of three-pointers from sophomore Alexis Reyes, while Balanc capped the run with a layup with 11:21 to play in the half.
- Stonehill followed with an 18-3 run to pull even (33-33) after a Johnson triple with 7:34 remaining in the half.
- Zegarowski pulled the Skyhawks even again (39-39) with 5:27 left, but Quinnipiac grabbed an eight-point cushion (52-44) with 2:03 on the clock after back-to-back threes by Kortright.
- Stonehill scored the final five points of the half to head to the intermission down three (52-49) and then drew level (55-55) after two Zegarowski free-throws three minutes into the second and then again (57-57) after a Sims layup.
- Zegarowski pulled Stonehill even (63-63) with a three-pointer with 15:21 remaining, but Quinnipiac used a 14-2 run to open a 12-point lead (77-65) after another Kortright three midway through the half.
- The Bobcats stretched their lead to 19 (90-71) after a layup off a turnover by junior Tymu Chenery with six minutes remaining.
- Stonehill made a late challenge, pulling back within nine (95-86) after a three-point play by Sims with 1:27 remaining, but the Bobcats did enough at the free-throw line (7-for-9) the rest of the way to hold off the Skyhawks rally.
Noteworthy
- Tonight marked the 42nd meeting all-time between the two programs dating back to 1954, but the first since the pair were Northeast-10 Conference foes in 1997.
- Sims posted the ninth 20-point game of his Stonehill career.
- Johnson scored in double-figures for the third time in his Stonehill career.
Noteworthy
Stonehill (0-2, 0-0 NEC) is right back in action on Saturday, when it visits Army West Point for a non-conference matchup at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks visit Providence College on Tuesday, in a game that will be broadcast live on FS2, at 5 p.m. Stonehill's next home game is Wednesday, November 30, when it hosts Eastern Nazarene College at Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Quinnipiac (2-0, 0-0 MAAC) visits Central Connecticut State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
