Men's Basketball Looks To Hang Ten Tuesday Evening As 24th-Ranked Skyhawks Take Nine Game Win Skein Into Northeast-10 Match-Up With Assumption

January 10, 2006

2005-2006 Stonehill College Men's Basketball

7:30 p.m. EST

THE GAME: Stonehill looks to extend its winning streak to a "perfect 10" this evening as the 24th-ranked Skyhawks take on the Assumption Greyhounds in a Northeast-10 Conference outing. Off to its best start in 17 years, Stonehill enters tonight's action after claiming its ninth straight triumph last Saturday afternoon with a 77-63 Northeast-10 decision over 2005 NCAA national runner-up Bryant at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I. Senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) led four players in double figures by recording his 11th career double-double effort with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while senior co-captain Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford) added 15 points and seven boards for the Skyhawks, who also received 15 points and four assists from senior Chris Kraus (Markham, Ont./Markham District). Junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) was also in double figures for the visitors with 10 points and five assists, while junior Soap Toun (Cranston, R.I./Cranston East) and freshman Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) came off the bench to score a combined 15 points, all of which came on three-pointers. Stonehill connected for 12 treys and recorded assists on 16 of 25 field goals to complete a regular-season sweep of the Bulldogs for the second straight season. Assumption enters tonight's action after dropping an 81-60 Northeast-10 decision to Bentley last Saturday afternoon at Laska Gymnasium in Worcester, Mass.

HONOR ROLL HONOREES: Seniors Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) and Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford) were each named on Monday to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll for their efforts in a pair of Stonehill victories last week. Taylor averaged 15 points, nine rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 assists on the week, including a double-double effort of 22 points and 10 rebounds in the 77-63 triumph at Bryant, while Nelson averaged 14 points and six boards on the week, including 15 points and seven caroms at Bryant, and shot an even 50 percent (12-24) from the field in the two outings.

LAST SEASON: Stonehill swept both meetings with Assumption during the 2004-2005 season, as the Skyhawks posted an 85-70 victory over the Greyhounds on January 11, 2005 at Laska Gymnasium in Worcester, Mass. before notching a 91-81 triumph on February 21, 2005 here at Merkert Gymnasium. Dezmond Morgan tallied 51 total points in the two victories for Stonehill, including a 23-point effort in the January contest that included his 1,000th career point.

THE SERIES: Stonehill and Assumption are meeting for the 88th time this evening, and the Greyhounds hold a 51-36 edge over the Skyhawks in the all-time series between the schools.

THE SKYHAWKS: Taylor leads Stonehill in scoring and rebounding at 15.9 ppg and 7.6 caroms per contest, while Nelson follows at 14.8 ppg and adds six rpg. Clarke is next at 11.6 ppg, while Kraus is also in double figures for the Skyhawks at 11.4 ppg while adding 5.4 assists per game.

THE GREYHOUNDS: Sophomore Mike Foti and senior Josh Melucci each pace Assumption in scoring at 11.8 ppg, while sophomore Corey Diethorn adds 10.8 ppg and leads the Greyhounds on the boards at 6.9 caroms per contest. Sophomore Leroy Byron is also in double figures for Assumption at 10.5 ppg.

HEAD COACH DAVID McLAUGHLIN: David McLaughlin is in his third season as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Stonehill College. A 1997 graduate of Colby, McLaughlin has guided the Skyhawks to a 36-21 (.632) mark during his tenure after previously serving as an assistant coach, including Stonehill's first 20-win season in seven years last winter. McLaughlin, who is assisted by Derik Malone, Josh Meyer and Mike Harding, is 2-0 during his career against Assumption.

HEAD COACH SERGE DE BARI: Serge DeBari is in the first season of his second go-round as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Assumption College. A 1971 graduate of Assumption, DeBari previously guided his alma mater for four seasons from 1995-99, and his record in Worcester stands at 61-66 (.480) in those five seasons combined. In 20 collegiate seasons overall, including 15 years at Babson, DeBari has compiled a 285-217 (.568) mark, and he is assisted by Guillermo Sanchez and John Ginnity. DeBari is 5-4 during his career against Stonehill.

ELEVENTH HEAVEN: Stonehill's 11-1 start marks the first time that the Skyhawks have won 11 of their first 12 outings since the start of the 1988-89 season that came under the guidance of Stonehill Hall of Famer, the late Ray Pepin.

BEST IN A GENERATION: Stonehill's 7-1 start in Northeast-10 play is its best in nearly 25 years, as the Skyhawks last won seven of its first eight conference outings during the 1981-82 campaign under another Stonehill Hall of Fame, the late Tom Folliard.

THEY CALL IT THE STREAK: Stonehill's current nine-game winning streak is its longest such skein since a 10-gamer back in January 1998 en route to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Skyhawks have posted a nine-game win streak and an eight-game win skein under David McLaughlin's guidance in the last calendar year alone.

RANK AND FILE: Stonehill cracked the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Top 25 for the first time in over eight years on December 20th, as the Skyhawks are the lone Northeast-10 team to be ranked nationally in Division II at the #24 position in the poll. The last time Stonehill appeared in the NABC Top 25 came in March 1998 during the Skyhawks' NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" campaign. Here is the December 20th NABC Division II national poll:

RankSchool (first place votes)RecordPointsPrevious Rank

1Virginia Union (2)4-11933

2Montevallo, Ala. (5)10-11891

3Western Washington (1)8-11864

4Saint Joseph's, Ind.9-01766

5Southern Indiana10-11617

6Seattle Pacific, Wash.7-11435

7Southwest Baptist, Mo.12-014113

8Florida Southern9-01388

9Mount Olive, N.C.7-112010

10West Virginia State7-111611

11Central Missouri State10-110714

12Holy Family, Pa.8-110212

13Catawba, N.C.10-19915

14Winona State, Minn.8-3939

15Fort Hays State, Kan.10-18719

16West Liberty State, W.Va.9-08317

17Tarleton State, Texas8-3702

18South Dakota8-16616

19Lynn, Fla.7-26418

20Alabama-Huntsville9-15022

21Northern State, S.D.9-14820

22Alaska Fairbanks7-229NR

23Philadelphia, Pa.8-223NR

24Stonehill, Mass.7-120NR

25Findlay, Ohio7-216NR

Others Receiving Votes: Grand Valley State 12, South Carolina Upstate 12, Ashland 9, Ferris State 7, Seattle 7, Grand Canyon 6, Massachusetts-Lowell 6, Montana State-Billings 6, Delta State 4, West Georgia 4, Fort Lewis 3, Emporia State 2, Armstrong Atlantic State 1, Fairmont State 1, Minnesota State-Mankato 1, Northern Michigan 1.

RANK AND FILE, PART TWO: Stonehill has the distinction of currently being the only Northeast-10 school with both its men's and women's basketball programs ranked nationally in Division II, as the Skyhawk women are ranked 17th in the WBCA Top 25.

BIG D-MAC ATTACK: After winning just 14 games in a two-and-a-half year stretch, Stonehill has posted a 31-9 (.775) mark in its last 40 contests under David McLaughlin's tutelage dating back to November 2004.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: In conference statistics released through games of January 9th, Stonehill leads the Northeast-10 in both scoring defense (62.4) and field goal percentage defense (.384), and the Skyhawks also lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.28) and defensive rebounds (28.25 drpg). Stonehill also ranks second in scoring margin (+10.3) and assists (17.17 apg). Individually, senior co-captain Mike Lauricella (Norwood, N.J./Don Bosco) leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio for the second straight season (2.50), while Marquis Tayulor ranks second in defensive rebounds (6.25 drpg).

NCAA RANK AND FILE: Stonehill is rated in three team categories in NCAA Division II national statistics through games of January 3rd. The Skyhawks are tied for 12th in won-lost percentage, 24th in field goals percentage defense and 37th in scoring defense, and individually Chris Kraus ranks 23th nationally in assists per game.

AYE, AYE CAPTAINS: Seniors Mike Lauricella (Norwood, N.J./Don Bosco) and Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford) have been named as co-captains for the 2005-2006 edition of Stonehill men's basketball. Lauricella, who also served as a Skyhawk captain last season, averaged 2.3 points and 2.2 rebounds off the bench last season, while Nelson added 5.6 points and 3.4 caroms per contest in a reserve role as well last winter for Stonehill.

IN GRAND SIGHT: Marquis Taylor is inching closer to becoming the 30th member of Stonehill's 1,000 Point Club, as he enters tonight's action 13 points shy of that magic mark. Dezmond Morgan was the last Skyhawk to reach that plateau, as he did so last season ironically in a January match-up with Assumption. Here are the members of Stonehill's 1,000 Point Club:

1.Mike Allocco2,3991969-73

2.Jon Cronin2,3011988-92

3.Bob Reitz2,2181979-83

4.Bill Zolga1,8221977-80

5.Mike Barros1,6791984-88

6.George Peterson1,6041964-67

7.David Donnelly1,4981995-99

8.Ed Grzembski1,4861987-91

9.Brian Cronin1,4741985-89

10.Dick Munson1,4481962-65

11.Leo Denault1,3981958-61

12.Paul Sincero1,3681950-53

13.Chris Butler1,3621991-95

14.Ron Richards1,3021965-68

15.Bob Duarte1,2791983-87

16.Tony Fiore1,2551981-85

17.Jason Jacobsen1,2271988-92

18.Kyle Quimby1,1851999-03

19.Art Horan1,1211968-71

20.Dezmond Morgan1,1192001-05

21.Derrik Jerman1,098 1989-93

22.Henry Jackson1,0901970-73

23.Jamal Gomes1,0821991-95

24.Howie Bain1,0631971-74

25.Lorenzo Lapido1,0611990-94

26.Adrian Machado1,0431992-96

27.Rollie Hollins1,0211971-74

28.Charlie Simonds1,0111973-77

29.Justin LoVerme1,0071997-01

SKYHAWK TALK: Saturday's victory was Stonehill's 36th in 60 series meetings with BryantThe January 2nd triumph at Merrimack was Stonehill's third straight over the Warriors and 58th in 90 series meetings between the two schools The December 12th win at UMass Lowell was Stonehill's first over the River Hawks since December 1999 and its first at Costello Gymnasium since November 1997 The Skyhawks have assisted on over two-thirds of their field goals on the season, notching 206 assists on 307 field goals through 12 gamesThe Skyhawks have led at the half in 11 of their 12 outings to date Prior to last season, Stonehill's last 20-win campaign came in 1997-98 when the Skyhawks won the Northeast-10 regular season crown en route to a berth in the NCAA Division II "Sweet Sixteen" The Skyhawks have eclipsed the 80-point plateau on 18 occasions in McLaughlin's 57-game tenure as head coach.

SKYHAWKS ON THE WEB: For the second straight season, Stonehill basketball can be accessed on the world wide web through Free Teamline, a service of TRZ Sports of Kent, Ohio. A total of 15 Skyhawk regular season men's basketball broadcasts will be available throughout the 2005-2006 season via Free Teamline by accessing the official Stonehill Athletics website at www.stonehillskyhawks.com, powered by Presto Sports. Returning to call all of action of Stonehill basketball once again this winter is the tandem of Charlie Bergeron and Brian Buckley, who have served as the voices of Skyhawk Basketball since 1998.

WHO'S NEXT: Stonehill heads to Colchester, Vt. on Saturday, January 14th to take on Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 outing at the Ross Sports Center that tips-off at 3:30 p.m. EST. The Skyhawks return home on Monday, January 16th to host defending league tournament champion Saint Anselm in a Northeast-10 match-up at Merkert Gymnasium that begins at 7:30 p.m. EST.