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The Game
Stonehill College opens its inaugural Northeast Conference schedule with a matchup at Sacred Heart University at William H. Pitt Center this afternoon. The Skyhawks will look to open NEC play and snap a run of four-straight losses after a 77-67 decision at Valparaiso University in Indiana last Wednesday, while the Pioneers tuned up for Conference play with a 66-62 win over Holy Cross here at the Pitt Center a week ago today.

Media Information
This afternoon's game is being broadcast live for NEC Front Row with Randy Brochu (play-by-play) and Joe Desantis (analyst) calling the action for Sacred Heart. The broadcast can be accessed via stonehillskyhawks.com through its NEC Front Row portal (necfrontrow.com/schools/SC) or through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku via the NEC On the Run App.

Last Time Out
Valparaiso took control in the first half and didn't look back in posting a 77-67 victory over Stonehill at The ARC Arena. Fifth-year guard Nick Edwards fueled the Valpo win with a double-double, scoring 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half on 7-of-11 shooting, to go with 12 assists, six rebounds and four steals. Fifth-years Isaiah Burnett (Annapolis, Md.) and Josh Mack (Winchester, Va.) were the lone Stonehill players in double figures in the contest as the Skyhawks found it difficult shooting against its second-straight Missouri Valley Conference foe of the week, finishing at 40-percent overall, including 6-for-25 (24%) from three, with a 7-for-26 (26.9%) start in the first half. Burnett scored a team-high 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, adding three rebounds, an assist and three steals for the NEC's steals leader, having now posted at least one theft in 20-straight games dating back to last season. Mack added ten points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting while draining all four free-throw attempts, with a pair of steals. Sophomore Christopher Melis (Chappaqua, N.Y.) was among three nine-point scorers for the Skyhawks, adding four rebounds, two assists and two steals to his season-high point total off the bench.

Against the Pioneers
This afternoon marks the 34th meeting all-time between these programs, but the first since Stonehill notched a 76-61 victory at the New Haven Coliseum on November 19, 1995. Sacred Heart holds a 22-11 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1966. The Pioneers have posted a known record of 8-3 at home against Stonehill, winning the last two meetings here in Fairfield, including a 92-64 triumph here during the 1994-95 season. Stonehill does hold a slight 6-4 edge over the last ten games played between the two.

Last Time They Met
Stonehill posted a 76-61 victory over Sacred Heart University in their last meeting played at the New Haven Coliseaum on November 19, 1995, on the second game of the season for both, prior to the Pioneers elevation to Division I before to the 1999-2000 season. Adrian Machado led Stonehill with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting, converting all six free-throw attempts, with six rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Darryl Taylor came off the bench to record a double-double for Stonehill with 15 points and 15 rebounds (seven offensive), with five assists and three blocks, while Kevin Gaskins contributed 13 points, eigth assists, three boards and three steals. Stonehill finished shooting 46.2-percent from the floor after connecting on 50% (28-for-56) in the first half to build a 41-26 halftime lead. The Pioneers were limited to 29.9% shooting for the contest.

A Look Back in Time
Stonehill and Sacred Heart are meeting for the first time since November 19, 1995, with their Northeast Conference opener in Fairfield this afternoon. A look back at what was going on in the world during this time:
• It was a Sunday.
• #1 Song in U.S.: Exhale (Shoop Shoop) by Whitney Houston.
• "Beatle Anthology" premieres on ABC-TV.
• Three days later on Nov. 22: "Toy Story", the first feature-length film created completely using computer-generated imagery, starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, is released.
• A person born on this day saved a Cent every day starting at age 7, then by now that person has accumulated $73.44 today.
• April 2: Longest strike in American major league sports history (232 days) ends as MLB owners accept players' offer to return to work without a contract.
• April 19: Oklahoma City bombing at Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 and injuring 500.
• July 23: Comet Hale-Bopp is discovered and becomes visible to the naked eye nearly a year later.
• I was 21 years old and a senior in College.
 
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.  

Bright Lights
The Northeast Conference announced that Stonehill's February 2 matchup with Saint Francis (Pa.) University will be broadcast live on ESPN3 through the NEC's 26-game television package. The matchup at Merkert Gym is among 21 games that will be featured on ESPN networks. Now in his 23rd season, Dave Popkin serves as the primary play-by-play announcer on men's broadcasts, with Paul Dottino (24th year) filling in. Tim Capstraw (24th year) and Joe DeSantis (16th year) are slated to split color analyst duties. Pack Network and Northeast Sports Network (NSN) will handle production duties for the league's ESPN3/ESPN+ package.

Conference Debut History
Stonehill will compete in its first Conference debut game since the Northeast-10 Conference's inaugural season in 1980-81. Stonehill posted an 83-64 triumph over then NE-7 rival Bentley at Merkert Gym in its Conference opener that year on its way to claiming the first NE10 Championships in Conference history.

Stonehill Shooting Stars
Stonehill currently leads the Northeast Conference in three-point percentage (.354) and free-throw percentage (.790), while ranking third in field goal percentage (.440) and fourth in scoring offense (69.9 ppg). Fifth-year Andrew Sims (Mount Laurel, N.J.) ranks second among NEC field goal percentage leaders (.490) and fourth in free-throw percentage (.819), while classmate Shamir Johnson (Waterbury, Conn.) leads the NEC in three-point percentage (.441).

Stop... Thief!
Stonehill fifth-year Isaiah Burnett (Annapolis, Md.) leads the NEC and ranks fourth nationally with his team-high 2.9 steals per game this season. His 41 thefts are most in the Conference and second nationally. Burnett has recorded a steal in all 14 contests to open the 2022-23 season and 20-straight games dating back to last year, including a career-high matching five thefts at Boston College on December 13 and at Binghamton on December 3. He had four steals in the first two games of the Konchalski Classic as well as against Eastern Nazarene on November 30. Burnett led the NE10 with 2.3 steals per game last year, collecting his 100th career steal at Bradley on December 19. (Note that due to NCAA Division I reclassification, Stonehill does not officially appear among NCAA statistical leaders for four years).

Shootin' Shamir
Stonehill fifth-year guard Shamir Johnson (Waterbury, Conn.) leads the NEC in three-point proficiency, having hit 26-of-59 for a 44.1-percent success rate (35th nationally). He has shot 50-percent or better from beyond the arc in seven of the Skyhawks 14 games this season. He hit 3-of-4 from deep in the Skyhawks' last-second win at Binghamton on December 3 and then made 3-of-5 against Rider on December 7. Johnson drained 8-of-11 threes for a 72.7 percent success rate in games against Providence and Holy Cross. He drilled 5-of-7 as part of a career-high 15-point night at Providence, then sank 3-4 in the Skyhawks' 81-79 win against Holy Cross. Johnson's 1.9 three-point field goals per game rank seventh in the NEC.

Taking Their Charity
Stonehill is still shooting an NEC-best 79-percent from the free throw line this season, five-percent higher than Fairleigh Dickenson (73.8%) in second. The Skyhawks have dipped to 10th nationally, but is still higher than the NEC single-season free-throw percentage record of 78.2 percent, established by CCSU in 2018-19. Stonehill currently has three players ranked in the NEC top-15 in free throw accuracy, led by postgrad Max Zegarowski (South Hamilton, Mass.), who has hit  86.1-percent of his attempts, (31-for-36) good for third in the conference. Fifth-years Andrew Sims (Mount Laurel, N.J.) is ranked fourth and Isaiah Burnett (Annapolis, Md.) 14th, shooting 81.9-percent and 72.7%, respectively. (Note that due to NCAA Division I reclassification, Stonehill does not officially appear among NCAA statistical leaders for four years)

Movin' On Up!
Fifth-year forward Andrew Sims (Mount Laurel, N.J.) surpassed 900 career points with his 20 point effort at Boston College on December 13 and is now well within striking distance of becoming the program's 43rd 1,000-point scorer. He has scored 924 points in 86 career games played as a 47.1-percent shooter for his career.

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.

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 right back in action on Saturday, when it closes out 2022 with an NEC matchup at Saint Francis University of Pennsylvania in Loretto at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks next home game is next Thursday, January 5, when they open a season-long four game homestand with an NEC clash against Wagner College at Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m.