Mount Laurel, N.J., fifth-year stuffs stat sheet with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block

Sims made 11-of-13 shots from the floor and matched his season-best with a game-high 24 points tonight (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (January 20, 2023) – Fresh of becoming the 43^rd 1,000-point scorer in program history, fifth-year Andrew Sims matched his season-high with 24 points and powered Stonehill College to a 73-66 victory over Long Island University in Northeast Conference men's basketball action at Steinberg Wellness Center tonight.

Sims made 11-of-13 shots from the floor, including his lone three-point try, on his way to a sixth 20-point game of the season as he scored 13 of his season-high matching 24 points in the second half, connecting on 6-of-7 shots over the final 20-minutes alone. He filled out the boxscore with a game-high seven rebounds, adding three assists, two steals and a blocked shot. The game-high point total moves him into 39^th place on Stonehill's all-time scoring list ahead of Rollie Hollins, '74 (1,021) with his 1,024 points in 93 career games.

Fifth-year Isaiah Burnett scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half as he and Sims helped Stonehill build a 12-point (45-33) halftime advantage. Burnett finished the night 3-for-6 from three-point distance and added five assists and two steals. Postgrad Max Zegarowski rounded out the Skyhawks double-figure scorers with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, three rebounds and two assists.

Sophomores Andre Washington and Marko Maletic each netted 17 points to pace LIU. Maletic was 3-for-6 from long range and added six rebounds, while Washington made 7-of-14 shots, including 2-for-4 from three, with four assists and three boards. Both also scored 12 of their 17 points in the first half. Senior Tre Wood chipped in ten points, six assists and two steals off the bench for the Sharks.

Burnett scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half and added five assists and two steals (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce)

LIU got off to a hot shooting start in the opening eight minutes, grabbing a six-point edge (18-12) after a Maletic three-pointer. Stonehill used a 13-5 spurt over the middle segment of the opening frame to grab a four-point lead (29-25) as Burnett capped five-straight points with a three-pointer with 6:12 to play in the half. The Skyhawks would go on to close out the first half with a 14-4 run, keyed by seven-straight points from Sims, but bookended by a Zegarowski three-point play and putback at the buzzer to send the visitors into halftime with a 12-point (45-33) lead.

Stonehill finished the first half shooting 59.3-percent (16-for-27) from the floor and posted a 19-10 rebounding advantage in the half, limiting LIU to just one offensive board.

LIU responded with a 10-2 run to open the second half, capped by a dunk by senior Cheikh Ndiaye, to pull back within four (47-43) with 13:43 still to play. Stonehill emerged from an ensuing timeout and got four-straight points from Zegarowski and Sims to reclaim an eight-point cushion (51-43) a minute later. That kick-started a 12-2 run to open a 14-point lead (59-45) after a turnaround jumper by Sims, who finished with six points in all during that stretch.

LIU trimmed the deficit to eight (61-53) after a jumper by sophomore Jacob Johnson with six minutes left, but Stonehill had the answer again, reclaiming its 14-point lead (69-55) with a Zegarowski layup with 2:40 to play and the Skyhawks weren't seriously threatened again.

Coach's Corner

"A great team win, where we did a really good job moving and sharing the ball, which showed with our 20 assists," said Stonehill head coach Chris Kraus, '06, on his 250^th game as head coach of his alma mater. "Our effort defensively in the first half got us rolling offense and allowed us to get out in front. I'm really proud of our guys and their effort to get a league road win."

Noteworthy

• Stonehill recorded assists on 20 of its 28 field goals, marking its second 20-assist night of the season. The Skyhawks also turned the ball over just ten times on the night.
• Sims sixth 20-point game of the season is the 14^th of his career.
• Zegarowski scored in double-figures for the fourth-straight game and 13^th time this season overall (48 career), giving him 943 career points in 81 games, including his time at Franklin Pierce and Lynn.
• Burnett's two steals gives the NEC steals leader (2.7/gm) multiple steals in 17 games this year and extended his streak with at least one steal in 27-straight games dating back to last year.

• Kraus' 250 career games as head coach ranks third all-time in Stonehill men's basketball history behind Ray Pepin (312) and David McLaughlin (288). Kraus improved to 138-112 (.552) at the Skyhawks helm.
• Tonight marked the first meeting all-time between these two programs.

Up Next

Stonehill (8-13, 4-3 NEC) is right back in action on Sunday evening, when it visits NEC-leading Fairleigh Dickinson for its second matchup with the Knights over a six-day span, at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Saturday, January 28, to host Sacred Heart University at 2 p.m. LIU (2-17, 0-7 NEC) hosts Central Connecticut State University on Sunday at noon.

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