Men's Basketball Looks To Continue Winning Ways Tuesday Evening As Skyhawks Open Northeast-10 Slate By Hosting Fifth-Ranked And Defending League Champion Bentley

November 22, 2005

2005-2006 Stonehill College Men's Basketball

7:30 p.m. EST

THE GAME: Stonehill looks to continue its winning ways this evening as the Skyhawks open Northeast-10 Conference play by hosting the defending league regular season champion Bentley Falcons in a conference clash. Stonehill opened its 2005-2006 campaign on a high note last weekend, as the Skyhawks posted a pair of non-league victories over Molloy (79-65) and Felician (71-63) as part of the 2005 Stonehill Coca-Cola Tip-Off Classic here at Merkert Gymnasium. Junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) led five players in double figures with 20 points in Friday's season-opening triumph over Molloy, which also received 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks from senior co-captain Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford). Senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) registered a double-double effort of 16 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday's win over Felician for the Skyhawks, who also received 16 points and six assists from senior Chris Kraus (Markham, Ont./Markham District). Bentley enters tonight's action after opening its Northeast-10 slate with an 83-78 league triumph over Assumption on Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center in Waltham, Mass.

HONOR ROLL HONOREE: Junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) earned a spot on the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll on Monday for his efforts during Stonehill's two season-opening victories over the weekend during the Stonehill Coca-Cola Tip-Off Classic. Clarke averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds on the weekend, including 20 points in last Friday's season-opening 79-65 victory over Molloy.

LAST SEASON: Stonehill dropped a pair of decisions to Bentley during the 2004-2005 season, as the Falcons eked out a 91-86 victory over the Skyhawks on November 23, 2004 at the Dana Center in Waltham, Mass. before notching a 75-68 triumph on January 27, 2005 here at Merkert Gymnasium. Marquis Taylor averaged 19 points in the two contests for Stonehill, while Evan Pellerin added double-double efforts in each game for the Skyhawks.

THE SERIES: Stonehill and Bentley are meeting for the 59th time this evening, and the Falcons hold a 32-26 advantage over the Skyhawks in the all-time series between the two schools.

THE SKYHAWKS: Clarke leads Stonehill in scoring at 15.5 ppg, while Kraus and Nelson each follow at 13.5 ppg. Taylor is also in double figures at 13 ppg and leads the Skyhawks on the boards at nine caroms per contest.

THE FALCONS: Senior Tim Forbes leads Bentley in scoring at 19 ppg, while fellow senior Sean Cooke follows at 12.5 ppg. Senior Danny Whall is next at 12 ppg, while sophomore Nate Fritsch adds 11 ppg and leads the Falcons on the boards at eight caroms per contest.

HEAD COACH DAVID McLAUGHLIN: David McLaughlin is in his third season as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Stonehill College this weekend. A 1997 graduate of Colby, McLaughlin has guided the Skyhawks to a 27-20 (.574) mark during his tenure after previously serving as an assistant coach. McLaughlin, who is assisted by Derik Malone, Josh Meyer and Mike Harding, is 0-4 during his career against Bentley.

HEAD COACH JAY LAWSON: Jay Lawson is in his 15th season as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Bentley College. A 1979 graduate of New Hampshire, Lawson has guided the Falcons to an overall mark of 253-153 (.623) during his tenure, and he is assisted by Pat Durgin and Mark Wentworth. Lawson is 18-10 during his career against Stonehill.

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.

SKYHAWK TALK: After winning just 14 games in a two-and-a-half year stretch, Stonehill has won 22 of its last 30 outings under David McLaughlin's tutelarge dating back to November of last yearPrior 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 are off to their second straight 2-0 start under McLaughlinThe Skyhawks have eclipsed the 80-point plateau on 16 occasions in McLaughlin's 47-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 returns to action on Sunday, November 27th when the Skyhawks entertain Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 outing here at Merkert Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. EST.