Senior Adam Fazzini had four of Stonehill's 11 three-pointers and led the way with 15 points and seven rebounds today. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Skyhawks drill 11 three-pointers, including four from Fazzini, for third straight win
EASTON, Mass. (December 30, 2012) – Stonehill College used 11 three-pointers in another balanced offensive effort to claim its third straight win with a 72-48 victory over Holy Family University to conclude the 2012 East Region Classic at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon. 13th-ranked Assumption College posted a 62-57 comeback win over Philadelphia University in today's opening game.
Senior Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) paced the Stonehill effort with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, including 4-for-7 from three-point range to go with seven rebounds and an assist. Sophomore Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) posted his fourth career double-double (all this season) with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to go with three steals and two blocked shots as he shot 4-for-7 from the field and converted all four free-throw attempts.
Senior Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson (Md.) Catholic) added 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field off the bench with five rebounds, two assists, a blocked shot and steal. Junior Mitch Amelio (Carlsbad, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) connected on 3-of-4 three-pointers for nine points in 13 minutes off the bench, dishing two assists. Freshman Josh Heyliger (Bear, Del./The Hill School) chipped in nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, three rebounds and a steal, while classmate Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) chipped in six assists.
Junior Ervin Ezell (Deptford, N.J./Deptford High) led Holy Family with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, four rebounds and two steals. Classmate Alberto Munoz (Morrisville, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons) added 12 points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals, while freshman Tuhran Griffin (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Learning Center) posted nine points, three rebounds and two steals. Freshman Isaiah Gans (Philadelphia, Pa./Redemption Christian Academy) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Stonehill finished shooting 44.6-percent (25-for-56) from the field, including 52.2% (12-23) in the second half to pull away as the Skyhawks connected on 6-of-10 (60%) three-pointers over the final 20 minutes. Stonehill shot 11-for-23 (47.8%) from beyond the arc on the afternoon and converted 11-of-15 (73.3%) free-throws, compared to 5-of-14 (35.7%) from the line by Holy Family. The Skyhawks posted a 38-28 rebounding advantage, limiting the visitors to just four offensive rebounds, outscoring the Tigers 12-0 for second chance points, 20-6 in points off turnovers and 27-4 for bench points.
Sophomore Jack Cole posted his fourth double-double of the season. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Holy Family shot 41.3% (19-for-46) from the field, but just 37.5% (9-24) in the second half, and was just 5-for-18 (27.8%) from three-point range. The Tigers turned the ball over 16 times and registered just five assists on their 19 field goals.
Holy Family jumped out early, taking a four point lead (7-3) after a Munoz three-pointer two and a half minutes into the game. Stonehill used a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to take its first lead (13-9) on a May-Thompson layup with 13:27 to play in the half. Fazzini sparked the run with a pair of three-pointers.
Stonehill wouldn't trail again, pushing its lead to ten points (27-17) after Fazzini capped an 8-0 run with his third three-pointer of the half with 3:50 left in the half. The Skyhawks extended their lead to 14 points (33-19) with a Heyliger layup with 47-seconds left before settling for a nine point (33-24) halftime lead.
Holy Family quickly drew back within four (33-29) after a Griffin three-pointer 1:13 into the second half, but that would be the closest the Tigers would get the rest of the way. Stonehill regained a double-digit lead (40-29) with two Cole free-throws with 15:13 remaining.
After Holy Family cut the lead to six (41-25) with a layup by sophomore Richard Council (New York, N.Y./Rice) with 13:40 remaining, Stonehill put the game away with a 21-1 run to open a 26 point lead (62-36) with 6:44 to play. Amelio netted all three of his three-pointers to spark the run, while the Skyhawks buried five three-pointers during that stretch in all. The Skyhawks wouldn't let the Tigers back within 21 points the rest of the way.
Stonehill (6-4, 2-4 NE-10) returns to action next Saturday, January 5, when it gets back into Northeast-10 Conference play with a visit to Merrimack College at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks return home the following Saturday, January 15, to host The College of Saint Rose at 3:30 p.m. Holy Family (6-7, 2-2 CACC) travels to Caldwell College next Saturday for a league matchup at 3 p.m.
In today's opening game, Assumption (9-2, 6-1 NE-10), ranked 13th in the NABC Division II poll, rallied from an 11 point deficit in the second half to claim a 62-57 victory over Philadelphia University (7-5, 3-1 CACC). Seniors Tim Beinert (Bellerose Village, N.Y./Holy Cross) and Ronson Quick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) combined for 37 points, with each netting the 1,000th point of their career in the win, to lead the Greyhounds. Beinert had a double-double effort of 19 points and 13 rebounds, with two assists and a blocked shot, while Quick added 18 points and six boards. Freshman Andre Gibbs (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) led three Rams in double-figures with 14 points, shooting 4-for-8 from three-point range, five rebounds and two assists.
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