Smith Scores 26 Points For Ninth 20 Plus Point Performance In Last 11 Games, Rudowitz Adds Fourth Career Double-Double Effort As Men's Basketball Claims Seventh Win In Last Eight Outings With 68-56 Northeast-10 Triumph Over Merrimack

January 11, 2007

STONEHILL MEN'S BASKETBALL

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Merkert Gymnasium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL: STONEHILL 68, MERRIMACK 56

EASTON, Mass.-- Sophomore Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) scored 26 points and grabbed six rebounds to notch his ninth 20-plus point performance in the last 11 games and lead Stonehill to a 68-56 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball victory over Merrimack Thursday evening at Merkert Gymnasium.

The host Skyhawks (12-4, 7-4 Northeast-10) overcame an early seven point deficit in a first half that saw three ties and eight lead changes to take a 39-37 advantage at the break, and Stonehill extended that margin to 10 points early in the second half as the visiting Warriors (4-12, 3-8 Northeast-10) went scoreless for the first 8:44 following intermission. The two teams traded baskets for a four minute stretch before the Skyhawks regained their double-digit lead at 64-54 with 2:10 remaining on a three-pointer by freshman Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J.), as Merrimack got no closer than seven points in the final two minutes.

Smith, whose 26 points was three shy of his career-high, was joined in double figures by senior Lance Clarke (Cambridge, Mass.), who netted 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the triumph for Stonehill. Freshman AJ Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J.) added his fourth career double-double effort with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for the winners, who also received seven points from sophomore Matt Hall (Springfield, Mass.) and a pair of key second half three-pointers from senior Soap Toun (Cranston, R.I.), who finished with six points and three assists. The Skyhawks shot 47 percent from the field while canning seven three-pointers, as the hosts held a 39-36 rebounding edge to sweep the regular season series between the two teams.

Sophomore David Kennedy (East Northport, N.Y.) paced Merrimack in the scoring column with 15 points, while senior Kenny Jones (Norwich, Conn.) added a double-double effort of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Darren Duncan (Briarwood, N.Y.) notched 10 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals for the Warriors, who shot 32 percent from the field overall, including a 22 percent second half effort, and held a 15-10 edge on the offensive glass.

Stonehill travels to Smithfield, R.I. on Saturday afternoon to take on Bryant in a Northeast-10 outing that tips-off at 3:30 p.m., while Merrimack heads to Albany, N.Y. to take on 25th-ranked Saint Rose in a Northeast-10 contest that also begins at 3:30 p.m.