Men's Basketball Continues Three Game Road Swing Tuesday Evening As Skyhawks Square Off With UMass Lowell In Northeast-10 "Battle Of The Birds"

February 6, 2006

2005-2006 Stonehill College Men's Basketball

7:30 p.m. EST

THE GAME: Stonehill seeks its fourth straight victory this evening as the Skyhawks continue a three-game road swing in squaring off with the UMass Lowell River Hawks in a key Northeast-10 Conference clash. Stonehill, ranked fifth in last week's NCAA Northeast Regional poll, enters tonight's action after posting a 67-62 Northeast-10 triumph over Saint Rose last Saturday afternoon at Nolan Gymnasium in Albany, N.Y., as senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) led three players in double figures with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior Lance Clarke (Somerville, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) added 14 points, including the go-ahead bucket with 1:24 remaining, while senior co-captain Sean Nelson (Milford, Mass./Milford) was also in double figures with 12 points, four boards and three assists. Senior Chris Kraus (Markham, Ont./Markham District) chipped in with nine points, including four free throws in the final 24 seconds of action to ice the win, and five assists, while freshman Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) netted eight points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench for Stonehill, which shot 52 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of play and canned seven three-pointers in posting their third victory in the last four meetings with the Golden Knights. UMass Lowell, ranked second in last week's NCAA Northeast Regional poll, enters tonight's action looking to end a two-game slide, as the River Hawks dropped an 82-79 Northeast-10 overtime decision to Assumption last Saturday afternoon here at Costello Gymnasium.

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Marquis Taylor (Los Angeles, Calif./Naval Prep) was named on Monday as the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season for his efforts in a pair of Stonehill victories last week. Taylor, who shared this week's award with Merrimack's Bruno Zanotti, averaged 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals on the week, including his 14th career double-double effort of a career-high tying 26 points and 13 rebounds in an 81-73 triumph over Pace to go with 17 points, six boards and three assists in a 67-62 win at Saint Rose. Taylor earned his second Northeast-10 Player of the Week accolade in the process, as he also earned the league honor back on December 5th for his efforts in a pair of Skyhawk triumphs over Saint Anselm and LeMoyne.

LAST MEETING: Stonehill and UMass Lowell last met on December 12, 2005 here at Costello Gymnasium, and the Skyhawks posted an 80-68 victory over the River Hawks. Sean Nelson led four players in double figures with a career-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds, while Lance Clarke added 16 points (including four three-pointers) and five boards for Stonehill, which also received 13 points and four caroms from Marquis Taylor and 13 points, five assists and three steals from senior co-captain Mike Lauricella (Norwood, N.J./Don Bosco).

THE SERIES: Stonehill and UMass Lowell are meeting for the 27th time this evening, and the River Hawks hold a 14-12 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 7.1 caroms per contest, while Nelson follows at 14 ppg and adds 5.9 rpg. Clarke is next at 11.9 ppg, while Kraus is also in double figures for the Skyhawks at 10.5 ppg while adding 5.4 assists per game.

THE RIVER HAWKS: Senior Stacey Moragne leads UMass Lowell in scoring and rebounding at 21.7 ppg and 7.7 caroms per contest, while senior Brandon Arnette follows at 14.7 ppg. Senior Carl Benn is also in double figures for the River Hawks at 11.6 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 42-24 (.636) 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 1-3 during his career against UMass Lowell.

HEAD COACH KEN BARER: Ken Barer is in his fifth season as Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. A 1988 graduate of George Washington, Barer has compiled an overall mark of 110-37 (.748) during his tenure with the River Hawks, and he is assisted by Marc Kuntz and Will Seward. Barer is 7-1 during his career against Stonehill.

REGIONAL PROWESS: Stonehill is 4-0 this season against the top three teams in the most recent NCAA Northeast Regional poll entering tonight's action, as the Skyhawks have bested Saint Anselm (twice), UMass Lowell and Saint Rose to earn that mark.

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 last Wednesday, 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, follow:

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 last 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.

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.

CONFERENCE RANK AND FILE: In conference statistics released through games of February 5th, Stonehill leads the Northeast-10 in free throw percentage (.749), field goal percentage defense (.410), three-point field goal percentage defense (.301), assists (17.29 apg), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.35) and defensive rebounds (26.48 drpg). Mike Lauricella continues to lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.84), while Chris Kraus and Marquis Taylor are ranked second in steals (2.24 spg) and defensive rebounds (5.62 drpg), respectively.

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 37-12 (.755) mark in its last 49 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 TAYLOR1,1422002-06

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: All three of Stonehill's series victories against Saint Rose have come during David McLaughlin's tenure as head coachStonehill is in a stretch of playing 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 last 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 363 assists on 543 field goals through 21 gamesThe Skyhawks have led at the half in 15 of their 21 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 66-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 wraps-up this three-game road trip on Saturday, February 11th when the Skyhawks head to Rindge, N.H. to take on Franklin Pierce in a Northeast-10 match-up at FPC Fieldhouse that begins at 3:30 p.m. EST.