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Nick Smith coverted several key baskets and finished with his second double-double of the season (20 points, 12 rebounds). |
North Easton, Mass. - Stonehill junior guard Matt Hall (Springfield, Mass.) truly saved his best for last. Hall scored 10 of his 17 points in the final 2:50, as the Skyhawks took a back-and-forth, two-overtime thriller against visiting St. Michael's, 91-83 on Saturday afternoon at Merkert Gymnasium.
The Purple Knights seemed to be in position to win the contest when they took a 58-53 lead with 3:26 remaining in regulation on a pair of James Sorrentine free throws. The Skyhawks then got a pair of free throws from A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J.) and a steal and layup from Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J.).
The teams then each made one of two free throws before Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) converted a driving layup while being fouled to tie the game at 60 with 30 seconds left in regulation. Smith missed the subsequent free throw but a back tap rebound by Colin Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) gave Stonehill the ball with a chance to win. Smith's jumper with two seconds left was off and the teams went into overtime having seen the lead change hands 14 times and the scored tied 10 more.
After St. Michael's Ryan Rodrigues and Smith traded three pointers midway through the extra period, the Purple Knights found themselves with a 71-68 lead following a pair of Chris Hurley free throws with 22 seconds left. Hall then began his heroics by drilling a right side corner three with a hand in his face with 11 seconds left to force a second overtime.
Stonehill, which played a triple-overtime game earlier this year, took the lead for good at 78-76 on a pair of Hall freebies and extended the lead to 80-76 on a Hall layup following at St. Michael's missed jumper.
The Purple Knights responded trimming the advantage to 800-79 with a leftside triple from Jon Zylstra, who's only other basket came midway through the second half.
Stallworth picked Nate Birr's pocket on the next possession, setting up two more trips to the charity stripe for Hall, as Stonehill sealed the win making 11 of its 14 free throw attempts in the second overtime.
The Skyhawks shot 39 percent from the floor for the game but connected on 10 of their 24 three pointers, led by Smith who went four-for-10 from behind the arc. He paced Stonehill with 20 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for his second double-double this season. Hall added seven rebounds for the second straight game to go along with his 17 points, while Rudowitz and freshman Vince Rosario (Perth Amboy, N.J.) each added 16. Rosario's statline included a 5-for-7 performance from behind the arc and a career-high five rebounds.
Stallworth, who was locked in a duel with the Purple Knights' Sorrentine down the stretch, reached double figures for the second straight contest, recording 12 points, four assists and four steals.
Sorrentine led St. Michael's with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists but shot 8-for-19 from the field and just 2-for-8 from behind the arc.
Brian Monahan, the Northeast-10's leading scorer, played all 50 minutes but was held scoreless in both overtime periods. He finished with 19 points and 19 rebounds. Rodrigues, who fouled out, ended up with 16 points in 39 minutes.
Stonehill, winners of five straight games, now sits at 10-6 overall and 6-3 in the Northeast-10. They return to the court on Thursday when they travel to Merrimack for a 7:30 p.m. tip in North Andover.