Taylor Nets 23 Points, Including Decisive Three-Pointer In Extra Session, As 10th-Ranked Men's Basketball Works Overtime For Record Tying 12th Straight Victory In 77-74 Northeast-10 Triumph Over Saint Anselm

January 16, 2006

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Monday, January 16, 2006

Merkert Gymnasium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL:STONEHILL 77, SAINT ANSELM 74 (OVERTIME)

EASTON, Mass.-- Senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored 23 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:02 remaining in overtime, as 10th-ranked Stonehill matched the longest winning streak in school history with its 12th straight triumph in posting a 77-74 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball victory over Saint Anselm Monday evening at Merkert Gymnasium.

In a game that featured eight lead changes and three ties in the final 12:24 of regulation and overtime combined, Taylor's trey lifted the host Skyhawks, off to their best start in 56 years at 14-1 overall and their best Northeast-10 start in 25 years at 10-1, to their second triumph of the season over the visiting Hawks (12-4, 7-4 Northeast-10) and first over Saint Anselm at Merkert Gymnasium since December 9, 1997.

The Hawks jumped out to a 37-30 lead at the break on the strength of 11 first half points from senior Jim Moore (Worcester, Mass.), and Saint Anselm extended that margin to nine points early in the second half before Stonehill closed to within one at 41-40 on a lay-in by junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass.) with 17:10 to play. The Hawks regained a pair of five point cushions over the next nine minutes of action before the Skyhawks rallied once again to forge a 57-57 tie with 7:24 to play in regulation on a conventional Clarke three-point play, and Stonehill built a four-point lead (64-60) before Saint Anselm rallied to take a one-point edge (65-64) on a three-point play by senior Jim Holsworth (Bogota, N.J.) with 2:29 to play. The Hawks took a two-point edge into the final 1:48 of regulation, but a Taylor jumper with 1:36 remaining evened matters at 66-66, as both teams had a pair of chances to take the lead in the final minute of action but did not convert.

A conventional three-point play by senior Chris Kraus (Markham, Ont.) on the first possession of overtime gave Stonehill a 69-66 edge, but Saint Anselm scored the next four points to regain a one-point lead on Moore's jumper (70-69). Taylor answered back with a jumper for the Skyhawks, but a jumper by senior Matt Cahill (Bridgewater, Mass.) gave the Hawks the lead for the final time at 72-71 with 2:27 to play in the extra session. Taylor then drained his three-pointer to give Stonehill the lead for good, and after a Kraus free throw with 27 seconds to play extended the Skyhawk advantage back to three, Holsworth was fouled on a lay-in but missed a free throw that would have tied the game with 13 seconds left. Senior Mike Lauricella (Norwood, N.J.) extended Stonehill's edge back to three with a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining, and Moore's three-point attempt as time expired fell short.

Taylor added five rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the win for Stonehill, which also received 17 points (including five three-pointers) and eight rebounds from Nelson. Kraus chipped in with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Skyhawks, who also received 11 points and four assists from Clarke. Freshman Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) grabbed six caroms for the hosts, who shot 40 percent from the field overall and but canned 13-of-25 attempts from three-point range while forcing 17 Saint Anselm turnovers.

Moore paced Saint Anselm with 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Cahill added 18 points and six boards for the Hawks, who also received 11 points and six caroms from senior Tyrell Dortch (Cambridge, Mass.). Holsworth added nine points and five assists for the visitors, who also received eight points and six rebounds from senior Darlington Okerulu (Jersey City, N.J.) as the Hawks shot 46 percent from the field but just 22 percent (4-18) from behind the arch despite holding a 40-36 rebounding edge.

Stonehill travels to Syracuse, N.Y. on Thursday evening to take on LeMoyne in a Northeast-10 outing that begins at 7:30 p.m., while Saint Anselm hosts Bentley in a Northeast-10 match-up on Thursday evening in Manchester, N.H. that also begins at 7:30.