Sophomore Ryan Logan finished with 14 points, including a clutch three-pointer with a minute to play to help seal the Skyhawks fifth straight win. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Skyhawks win season-high fifth-straight with red hot three-point shooting 

EASTON, Mass. (January 31, 2015) – Stonehill College, ranked tenth in this week's D2SIDA East Regional poll, buried 12-of-20 three-pointers to extend its winning streak to a season-high five games with a 69-59 triumph over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium as part of Alumni Day at the College this afternoon.

Junior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and sophomore Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) led a balanced Stonehill offensive attack with 14 points apiece. Smith paced the Skyhawks three-point barrage by connecting on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc while converting both free-throw attempts to go with five assists. Logan made 5-of-10 shots from the floor, including both three-pointers, and made both free-throws to go with four rebounds and four assists. Senior Jack Cole (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) added ten points on 4-of-8 shooting, with seven rebounds and two blocked shots, while junior Daniel Brix (Monroe Township, New Jersey/Saint Joseph) contributed ten points, five boards, three assists and two steals. Junior Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet Regional) chipped in with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from three, and a team-high eight boards.

Junior Chris Dorgler (Floral Park, New York/Archbishop Molloy) led Saint Rose with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, while freshman Jalaun Taylor (Albany, New York/Bishop Maginn) was the only other Golden Knight in double figures with ten points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Junior Max Weaver (Loudonville, New York/CBA) chipped in seven points, a game-high nine rebounds and two assists.

Stonehill shot 47.9-percent (23-for-48) from the field for the afternoon, including 65-percent (13-20) in the first half, connecting on 12-of-20 (60%) three-pointers. The Skyhawks buried 6-of-9 (66.7%) triples in the first half, but went into halftime knotted at 34-34 due partially to ten turnovers and 2-of-10 shooting at the free-throw line over the opening 20 minutes. Saint Rose was held to 40-percent (24-for-60) shooting, including 34.4% (11-32) in the second half as Stonehill was able to pull away down the stretch, connecting on 7-of-30 (23.3%) three-pointers and 4-of-5 (80%) free-throws.

Junior Carter Smith buried 4-of-5 three-pointers on his way to 14 points this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Stonehill came out of halftime and reeled off a 12-2 run to open a ten point lead (46-36) 4:15 into the second half after a layup by Brix on the Saint Rose inbounds pass after Logan scored inside. Smith and Bramanti buried back to back three pointers to fuel the run after Saint Rose scored the opening basket of the half before the Skykawks reeled off 12 straight points.

Saint Rose wouldn't go away quietly, closing the gap to six with a Dorgler jumper with 14:18 remaining. Smith netted a pair of three-pointers around a Golden Knights basket to push the Stonehill lead back to ten (53-42) with 13 minutes to go. Saint Rose climbed back within four (54-50) on a jumper by freshman Julian Lipinski (Melbourne, Australia) with 7:53 on the clock and was within two (59-57) after a three-pointer by Taylor with 3:53 to play.

Stonehill closed the game out from there by scoring the last eight points of the contest, holding Saint Rose scoreless over the final 2:17 to clinch the victory. Logan buried a clutch three-pointer to push the lead to seven (66-59) with 56-seconds left and then Smith drained two free-throws and Brix made one of two at the line to account for the final spread.

Stonehill trailed by five early (14-9) before posting a 19-7 run to take a seven point lead (28-21) with a Logan three-pointer with 7:14 remaining in the first half. Dorgler sent the teams into the locker room knotted at 34-34 with a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Stonehill (14-6, 9-5 NE-10) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Wednesday when it hosts Merrimack College in a return to Northeast Divisional play at 7:30 p.m. Saint Rose (5-16, 3-11 NE-10) hosts American International College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

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