Men's Basketball Begins Three-Game Road Swing Saturday Afternoon As Skyhawks Square Off With Saint Rose In Key Northeast-10 Showdown

February 3, 2006

2005-2006 Stonehill College Men's Basketball

3:30 p.m. EST

THE GAME: Stonehill hits the road in search of its third straight victory this afternoon as the Skyhawks begin a three-game road swing by taking on the Saint Rose Golden Knights in a key Northeast-10 Conference match-up. Stonehill, tied for first place in the league standings with Bentley, enters today's action after posting a 83-71 Northeast-10 triumph over Pace on Wednesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium, as senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) led five players in double figures by notching his 14th career double-double effort with a career-high tying 26 points and 13 rebounds. Senior co-captain Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford) added 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win for the Skyhawks, who also received 12 points and seven caroms from junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin). Senior Chris Kraus (Markham, Ont./Markham District) collected 11 points and eight assists on the night for the hosts, who also received 10 points of the bench from junior Soap Toun (Cranston, R.I./Cranston East) and six assists from senior co-captain Mike Lauricella (Norwood, N.J./Don Bosco), as Stonehill shot 58 percent from the field in the second half and canned nine three-pointers while recording assists on 22 of 29 field goals. Saint Rose enters today's action looking to end a two-game slide, as the Golden Knights dropped an 87-75 Northeast-10 decision to Merrimack on Wednesday evening at the Volpe Complex in North Andover, Mass.

HONOR ROLL HONOREES: Seniors Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford) and Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) each earned spots on the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll on Monday for their efforts in a pair of Stonehill contests last week. Nelson averaged 15.5 points, eight rebounds, three assists, 1.5 steals and one block on the week, including 18 points, seven boards and four assists in a 68-55 win over Southern Connecticut as well as 13 points and nine caroms in a 78-72 setback at Bentley. Taylor averaged 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and two blocks on the week, including 17 points and seven rebounds against Southern Connecticut and 13 points and six boards against Bentley.

LAST MEETING: Stonehill and Saint Rose last met on February 5, 2005 at Merkert Gymnasium, and the Skyhawks posted an 80-69 victory over the Golden Knights. Marquis Taylor netted 24 points and 12 rebounds in that triumph for Stonehill, which also received a double-double of 21 points and 11 boards from Evan Pellerin.

THE SERIES: Stonehill and Saint Rose are meeting for the 10th time this afternoon, and the Golden Knights hold a 7-2 edge over the Skyhawks in the all-time series between the schools.

THE SKYHAWKS: Taylor leads Stonehill in scoring and rebounding at 16.5 ppg and 7.2 caroms per contest, while Nelson follows at 14.1 ppg and adds 6.0 rpg. Clarke is next at 11.8 ppg, while Kraus is also in double figures for the Skyhawks at 10.6 ppg while adding 5.4 assists per game.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Senior Brad Shove leads Saint Rose in scoring at 16.1 ppg, while junior Michael Epperson follows at 11.2 ppg and leads the Golden Knights on the boards at 4.9 caroms per contest. Sophomore Steve Dagostino is also in double figures 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 41-24 (.631) 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 2-1 during his career against Saint Rose.

HEAD COACH BRIAN BEAURY: Brian Beaury is in his 20th season as Head Men's Basketball Coach at The College of Saint Rose. A 1982 Saint Rose graduate, Beaury has compiled an overall mark of 442-167 (.726) at his alma mater, and he is assisted by Tim Perry and Steve Sgambelluri. Beaury is 7-2 during his career against Stonehill.

GENERATION GAP: Stonehill's 14-1 start to the season was the Skyhawk's best in 56 years, as the first Stonehill squad posted a 15-1 mark under Head Coach George Sullivan during the 1949-50 season.

THEY CALL IT THE STREAK: Stonehill's recent 12-game winning streak matched the longest such skein in school history, as the 1970-71 squad also posted 12 consecutive victories during that campaign. The Skyhawks have posted a 12-game win streak and an eight-game win skein under David McLaughlin's guidance in the last calendar year alone.

REGIONAL RANK AND FILE: Stonehill was ranked fifth in the third NCAA Division II Northeast Regional rankings released by the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Committee on Wednesday afternoon, as the Skyhawks earned the top spot in the region on January 18th. The NCAA Northeast Regional rankings, with records listed through games played as of January 29th, are as follows:

1.Saint Anselm14-514-5

2.Massachusetts-Lowell16-516-5

3.Saint Rose16-516-5

4.Bentley14-612-6

5.Stonehill15-415-4

6.Southern New Hampshire14-614-6

7.Queens (New York)14-414-4

8.Bryant13-713-7

9.Adelphi14-413-4

10.Philadelphia U.13-813-6

NATIONAL RANK AND FILE: Stonehill received votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II national poll for the sixth straight week on Tuesday afternoon, as the Skyhawks have been ranked as high as 10th nationally. Prior to December 20th, the last time Stonehill appeared in the NABC Top 25 came in March 1998 during the Skyhawks' NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" campaign. Here is the January 31st NABC Division II national poll:

RankSchool (first place votes)RecordPointsPrevious Rank

1Virginia Union (6)14-21875

2Fort Hays State, Kan. 18-11826

3Southern Indiana (1)21-21778

4Western Washington16-2 164NR

5Seattle Pacific, Wash. (1)16-21627

6Montevallo, Ala.18-2-NR

7Findlay, Ohio18-21549

8Barton, N.C.15-115210

9Delta State, Miss.18-114411

10Saint Joseph's, Ind.18-2136NR

11Southwest Baptist, Mo.18-2129NR

12Northern State, S.D.17-211913

13Wionna State, Minn.16-410316

14Alabama-Huntsville17-390NR

15Tarleton State, Texas16-48225

16Grand Valley State, Mich.17-37521

17Alderson-Broaddus, W. Va.14-35320

18tSouthern Illinois Edwardsville15-350NR

18tWest Liberty State, W. Va.16-232NR

20Columbus State, Ga.14-530NR

21Minnesota State-Mankato17-428NR

22Truman State, MO16-4-NR

23Saint Anselm, N. H. 15-524NR

24Johnson C. Smith, N.C.14-423NR

25Clayton State, Ga.15-320NR

Others Receiving Votes: Central Missouri State 15, Mount Olive 11, Massachusetts-Lowell 10, Chaminade 9, Northwest Missouri State 8, Saint Augustine's 8, West Virginia State 7, Armstrong Atlantic State 6, Stonehill 5, Grand Canyon 5, Lynn 3, Saint Rose 3, Ferris State 2, Sonoma State 2, Ashland 1, Bentley 1.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: In conference statistics released through games of January 29th, Stonehill leads the Northeast-10 in free throw percentage (.749), field goal percentage defense (.405), three-point field goal percentage defense (.290), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.30) and defensive rebounds (27.00 drpg). Senior co-captain Mike Lauricella (Norwood, N.J./Don Bosco) continues to lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.86), while Chris Kraus is ranked second in steals (2.21 spg).

NCAA RANK AND FILE: Stonehill is ranked in five team categories in the latest NCAA Division II national statistical leaders through games of January 29th, as the Skyhawks are 17th in free throw percentage, 29th in field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage defense and won-lost percentage and 38th in scoring defense. Chris Kraus is ranked 41st individually in assists and 42nd in free throw percentage.

MORE RANK AND FILE: Five Stonehill athletic teams have now cracked the top 10 in their respective sports during the 2005-2006 academic year: Field Hockey (#4), Men's Cross Country (#9), Men's Basketball (#10) and Women's Basketball (#9). The defending national champion Skyhawk women's lacrosse team has been picked as the top-ranked team in Division II circles as well in the Lacrosse Magazine pre-season poll.

BIG D-MAC ATTACK: After winning just 14 games in a two-and-a-half year stretch, Stonehill has posted a 36-12 (.750) mark in its last 48 contests under David McLaughlin's tutelage dating back to November 2004.

A GRAND ENTRANCE: Marquis Taylor became the 30th player in Stonehill men's basketball history to reach the 1,000 career point plateau with a 15-point performance in the Skyhawks' 82-64 win over Assumption on January 10th. 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.MARQUIS TAYLOR1,1252002-06

20.Art Horan1,1211968-71

21.Dezmond Morgan1,1192001-05

22.Derrik Jerman1,098 1989-93

23.Henry Jackson1,0901970-73

24.Jamal Gomes1,0821991-95

25.Howie Bain1,0631971-74

26.Lorenzo Lapido1,0611990-94

27.Adrian Machado1,0431992-96

28.Rollie Hollins1,0211971-74

29.Charlie Simonds1,0111973-77

30.Justin LoVerme1,0071997-01

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: Beginning with today's contest, Stonehill will play three of its next four outings against regionally-ranked foes (Saint Rose, UMass Lowell and Southern New Hampshire)Taylor matched his career-high effort in the scoring column with 26 points in Wednesday's win over Pace, as he also netted 26 points against the Setters in an overtime victory last season in PleasantvilleThe January 16th win over Saint Anselm was Stonehill's first over the Hawks at Merkert Gymnasium since December 9, 1997 and gave the Skyhawks a regular season series sweep of Saint Anselm for the first time since the 1990-91 campaignStonehill has won six straight in the series with Saint Michael's dating back to January 2003Clarke hit the 20-point plateau in a game for the second time this season in the January 10th triumph over Assumption, as he matched his career-high set on opening night (November 18th) against MolloyThe January 7th victory was Stonehill's 36th in 60 series meetings with 2005 NCAA national runner-up Bryant, as the Skyhawks have swept the last two regular season series match-ups (four contests) from the Bulldogs The Skyhawks have assisted on over two-thirds of their field goals on the season, notching 344 assists on 518 field goals through 20 gamesThe Skyhawks have led at the half in 14 of their 20 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 21 occasions in McLaughlin's 65-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 continues this three-game road swing on Tuesday, February 7th as the Skyhawks head to Lowell, Mass. to take on UMass Lowell in another key Northeast-10 showdown at Costello Gymnasium that tips-off at 7:30 p.m. EST.