Sims earned All-Tournament team honors and finished with 16 points and a career-high seven assists tonight (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney) |
Burnett and Sims earn All-Tournament honors for Konchalski Classic
BRONX, N.Y. (November 22, 2022) – Host Fordham University clinched the title for the 2022 Tom Konchalski Classic, but not without a strong fight to the end from Stonehill College before claiming a 71-60 decision to wrap up the inaugural event inside Rose Hill Gymnasium tonight.
Fordham postgrad Darius Quisenberry capped his claim to the inaugural Jim O'Connell MVP Trophy among three Rams in double-figures with 14 points, shooting 3-for-8 from three-point distance and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, six assists, four rebounds and a steal. Classmate Khalid Moore scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, with four rebounds for the Rams tonight.
Fifth-years Andrew Sims each earned spots on the Konchalski Classic All-Tournament for their efforts. Sims scored in double-figures for the seventh time in as many games this season and 13th-straight contest overall, dating back to last winter, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, a career-high seven assists, five rebounds and three steals, while Burnett averaged 14.0 points on 42.9-percent shooting (9-for-21) from the floor, while converting 23-of-27 free-throws for the weekend, and adding 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the weekend, including a career-high 30 points in Saturday night's 81-79 win over Holy Cross. Sims averaged 18 points, shooting 19-for-21 (90.5%) from the free-throw line, with 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists over the three games.
Burnett joined Sims on the All-Tournament Team |
Leaders
Stonehill
Sims: 16 points, five rebounds, career-high seven assists and three steals.
Max Zegarowski Postgrad, Guard: 13 points, three rebounds and an assist and steal.
Shamir Johnson Fifth-year, Guard: Eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-for-3 from long range.
Fordham
Moore: Game-high 24 points (9-for-13), four rebounds (three offensive).
Quisenberry: 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal.
Kyle Rose Junior, Guard: Ten points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
Abdou Tsimbila Junior, Forward: 12 rebounds, four points and two blocked shots.
Zegarowski contributed 13 points tonight (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney) |
How it Happened
- Fordham used an 11-0 run after a back-and-forth opening segment to grab a 14-point lead (21-7) with 11:31 to play in the first half after consecutive three-pointers by Quisenberry and Rose.
- Stonehill responded with six-straight to pull back within eight (21-13) on a Johnson jumper two minutes later, and then drew within five (25-20) on a Sims layup with 6:17 to go in the half.
- Fordham was able to stretch its lead back to 11 (36-25) in the final minute of the frame, but Stonehill closed with nine (36-27) after two Burnett free-throws just before halftime.
- Stonehill started the second half with a 7-1 run to pull within three (37-34) after five-straight points by Zegarowski.
- The Skyhawks closed within two (42-40) after a Sims jumper less than six minutes in, but Moore followed with a triple to push the Rams lead back to five (45-40) with 13:45 remining.
- Moore answered that push with consecutive baskets nearly three minutes apart to restore a seven-point cushion (47-40) with 11 minutes left.
- Stonehill cut the lead to four once again (49-45) with a three-pointer by postgrad Cole Bergan with 9:26 left, but that would prove to be as close as the Skyhawks would get over the remainder of the game.
- Fordham used a key sequence with under three minutes to play to finally seal the win after Johnson drained a three to pull Stonehill back within six.
- Stonehill buckled down on the defensive end and got a shot clock violation for a chance to draw back within a possession, but an errant pass turned the ball over and Quisenberry drilled a three-pointer, before Rose made one of two free-throws to restore a double-figure lead (67-57), before converting its free-throws in the last minute to clinch the win.
Noteworthy
- Tonight marked the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
- Sims has scored in double-figures in 13-straight games dating back to last season and 36 times in his career overall.
- Sims has now scored 837 points in 80 career games played.
Up Next
Stonehill (2-5, 0-0 NEC) returns to action on Sunday, when it visits former Northeast-10 Conference foe UMass Lowell for a non-conference clash at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks next home game is Wednesday, November 30, when they host Eastern Nazarene College at Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Fordham (5-1, 0-0 A-10) hosts Harvard University on Sunday at 1:30 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.
