Smith Scores Career High 29 Points And Grabs Nine Boards To Lead Quartet In Double Figures As Men's Basketball Notches 77-59 Northeast-10 Triumph Over Bryant

December 13, 2006

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Merkert Gymnasium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL: STONEHILL 77, BRYANT 59

EASTON, Mass.-- Sophomore Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead four players in double figures as Stonehill posted a 77-59 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball victory over Bryant Wednesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium.

The host Skyhawks (6-3, 4-3 Northeast-10) scored 17 of the game's first 19 points over the first 5:11 of action, extending their advantage to as many as 20 points before settling for a 38-22 lead at the break. The visiting Bulldogs (5-4, 4-3 Northeast-10) closed their deficit to 12 points early in the second half before Stonehill used a quick 11-0 run over a 3:28 stretch that was capped by a Smith three-pointer to take a 54-31 advantage with 13:31 remaining, as the Skyhawks led by as many as 24 points in the final 10-plus minutes of action.

Seniors Lance Clarke (Cambridge, Mass.) and Soap Toun (Cranston, R.I.) each netted 12 points in the win for Stonehill, which also received 12 points and eight rebounds from freshman AJ Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J.). The Skyhawks shot 52 percent from the field overall and canned 10 three-pointers, as the hosts recorded 19 assists and converted 13 Bryant turnovers into 14 points in posting their sixth straight victory over the Bulldogs since December 2004.

Senior Chris Burns (Merrimack, N.H.) led the way with 20 points, including five three-pointers, in the setback for Bryant, which also received 13 points and five rebounds from senior Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine). Sophomore Ryan McLean (Plymouth, Mass.) added eight points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs, who shot 34 percent from the field overall but just 27 percent from behind the arc. The visitors held a slim 36-35 rebounding advantage, including a 14-6 edge on the offensive glass alone.

Stonehill heads to North Andover, Mass. on Sunday afternoon to take on Merrimack in a Northeast-10 outing that begins at 3:00 p.m., while Bryant hosts LeMoyne in a Northeast-10 contest on Friday, December 29th in first round play of the Bryant Holiday Tournament in Smithfield, R.I. beginning at 5:00 p.m.