Freshman Carter Smith led the Skyhawks with a season-high 14 points tonight. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Smith nets season-high 14 points to lead Skyhawks

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 4, 2012) – Southern New Hampshire University handed Stonehill College its second-straight road defeat with a 63-46 decision in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse tonight.

Junior Mike Stys (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central) led three Southern New Hampshire players in double-figures with a game-high 19 points (13 first half) on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, and converting 6-of-7 free-throws to go with four assists, two rebounds and a steal. Freshman Rodney Sanders (Linden, N.J./Saint Thomas More) added 12 points, connecting on 4-of-7 shots from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Classmate David Madol (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial) contributed 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting of the bench and converting 3-of-4 free-throws with six rebounds, two assists, a blocked shot and steal. Junior C.J. Marriro (Boston, Mass./Newton North) chipped in a team-best ten rebounds with eight points, five assists and two steals.

SNHU, which recorded assists on 16 of its 21 field goals, finished shooting 42-percent (21-for-50) from the field, including 48.1% (13-27) in the first half to build a 19 point (36-17) lead by halftime. The Penmen also converted 16-of-20 (80%) free-throw attempts, including 11-of-14 (78.6%) in the second half to help salt the game away, posted a 41-38 rebounding edge and outscored Stonehill 23-12 in points off turnovers despite being minus two (24-22) in turnovers for the contest.

Freshman Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) was the lone Stonehill player in double-figures with a season-high 14 points, aided by a 7-for-7 effort from the free-throw line, three assists and two steals off the bench. Sophomore Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds (eight offensive) to go with seven points and two blocked shots. Senior Brian Hamor (Guilderland, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) chipped in seven points, while classmate Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson (Md.) Catholic) grabbed eight boards.

Sophomore Jack Cole grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Stonehill struggled shooting the ball, connecting on just 26.8-percent (15-for-56) from the field, including 6-for-23 (26.1%) in the first half. The Skyhawks shot 4-for-20 (20%) from three-point range and converted just 12-of-24 (50%) free-throw attempts.

Southern New Hampshire led wire to wire, scoring the first five points of the game on its way to a seven point lead (9-2) five minutes in, behind four points from Stys. The Penmen pushed the lead to ten (17-7) with a steal and layup from sophomore Aleksandar Dobrovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) with 12:52 remaining in the half.

Stonehill held SNHU scoreless for the next four minutes, but only got a pair of Smith free-throws before the Penmen opened a 13 point lead (22-9) on a three-pointer by sophomore Phillip Tripodakis (Athens, Greece) with 7:53 left in the half. The Skyhawks closed within six (22-16), keyed by an Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) triple and baskets from Smith and Hamor, 5:55 before halftime.

SNHU closed the half with a 14-1 run as Stonehill missed its last three shots from the field over the final 5:55, but turned the ball over seven times, with the Penmen taking the 19 point (36-17) halftime lead. Stys sparked the run with a pair of three-pointers for SNHU, while Madol added six points as well.

Stonehill closed within 13 twice in the opening ten minutes of the second half, but could get no closer before Southern New Hampshire gained a 20 point lead (49-29) with a three point play from Marriro with 12:25 to play. Neither team scored for the next three minutes, but that was only to the Penmen's advantage with the Skyhawks unable to draw closer than 16 the rest of the way.

Stonehill (3-3, 2-3 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it visits rival Bentley University for a key NE-10 clash at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Sunday, December 16, to host Concordia (N.Y.) University for a non-conference matchup at 1:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (5-2, 3-2 NE-10) visits Merrimack College on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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