Senior Jack Cole logged his 21st career double-double for the Skyhawks tonight. (PHOTO BY Paul W. Fitzgerald Photography) |
Hawks shoot 68-percent in the second half, get combined 47 points from Santo and McCahey
EASTON, Mass. (December 10, 2014) – Saint Anselm College, ranked 24th in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll, shot 68-percent from the field in the second half to pull away from Stonehill College for a 75-57 victory in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.
Senior Chris Santo (Cherry Hill, New Jersey/Cherry Hill East) and junior Mike McCahey (Clarkstown, New York/Clarkstown South) combined for 47 points to lead Saint Anselm to its fifth straight win. Santo scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in the first half, shooting 11-for-16 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, to go with seven rebounds and two steals. McCahey notched a double-double with 22 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, connecting on 10-of-16 shots from the floor. Senior Roy Mabrey (Belmar, New Jersey/St. Thomas More) chipped in with ten second half points, connecting on 2-of-3 three-pointers, with three assists and two boards.
Senior Jack Cole (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) led Stonehill with his third straight double-double, his fifth of the season (21st career), with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting with a team-high 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. Junior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) scored a team-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting with three assists and two steals. Junior Josh Heyliger (Queens, New York/The Hill School) chipped in with eight first half points, six rebounds and two steals.
Saint Anselm finished shooting 52.5-percent from the field (32-for-61) after hitting at a blistering 67.9-percent (19-for-28) in the second half to surge past Stonehill after trailing by one (30-29) at halftime. The Hawks buried 8-of-20 three-pointers (40%), including 6-of-10 (60%) in the second half, and held a 39-33 rebounding advantage. Stonehill shot 38.5-percent (25-for-65) from the floor, including 37.1% (13-35) in the second half, converting just 4-of-22 (18.2%) three-pointers overall, including 1-for-8 (12.5%) over the final 20 minutes.
Stonehill led by as much as eight (28-20) after a Smith jumper with four minutes to go in the first half, but Saint Anselm closed within a point (30-29) at the half. Santo scored seven of the Hawks final nine points in the opening frame.
Saint Anselm scored the first five points of the second half to claim the lead (34-30) after a three-pointer from freshman Taylor Fortin (Tolland, Connecticut/Wilbraham & Monson) and layup by Santo in the opening minute. The Hawks used a 15-4 run to push their lead to double-figures (51-38) on a Santo layup with 12 minutes to play. McCahey scored eight points during that stretch, while Santo converted a three-point play. Saint Anselm extended its lead to 19 (63-44) after a Mabry three-pointer with 7:30 on the clock and the advantage reached 20 (73-53) with a McCahey layup with three minutes left.
Stonehill (5-4, 3-2 NE-10) is off until after finals when it hosts Humber College of Ontario for a non-conference clash before the holiday break on Saturday, December 20, at 3 p.m. Saint Anselm (7-1, 5-1 NE-10) travels to Post University for a non-conference matchup on December 20 at 2 p.m.
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