Sophomore Ryan Logan buried 6-of-8 three-pointers for a team-high 18 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Holton, Jr., and Cambronne lead Purple Knights to comeback win 

COLCHESTER, Vt. (February 7, 2015) – Saint Michael's College, ranked ninth in this week's D2SIDA East Regional poll, overcame a slow start to claim a 75-71 victory over Stonehill College, ranked sixth in the regional poll, in a key Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball matchup at Ross Sports Center this afternoon.

Saint Michael's overcame a Stonehill team that connected on 15-of-31 (48.4-percent) three-pointers by turning the ball over just four times all afternoon, compared to ten for the Skyhawks, and record a 16-8 advantage in points off turnovers to go with a 19-9 edge in second chance points despite being out-rebounded 35-33. Stonehill shot 45.8-percent (27-for-59) from the field overall, including 9-of-17 (52.9%) from three-point range in the second half, but went to the free-throw line just four times, converting two. Saint Michael's shot 43.9% (29-for-66) overall, but made 48.5% (16-33) in the second half.

Seniors Michael Holton, Jr. (Portland, Oregon/The Winchendon School) and James Cambronne (De Bary, Florida/The Winchendon School) combined for 40 points to lead Saint Michael's to the win. Holton, Jr., scored a game-high 23 points (12 second half) on 8-of-18 shooting, including 2-for-8 from three-point range, while converting all five free-throws to go with four rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Cambronne was the only other Purple Knight in double figures with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, with seven rebounds.

Senior Dom Ditlefsen (Portland, Oregon/Sunset) chipped in nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc off the bench, while classmate Corey Crawford II (Dover, Delaware/The Phelps School) dished out six assists to go with eight points and five boards.

Sophomore Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) led four Stonehill players in double figures with 18 points, burying 6-of-8 three-pointers, to go with a game-high matching eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. Junior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) contributed 17 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, with three rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal. Classmate Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) added 13 points, seven assists, three boards and a steal, while senior Jack Cole (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) chipped in 11 points and four rebounds.

Junior Pierce Cumpstone added 17 points off the bench for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Paul W. Fitzgerald Photography)

Stonehill raced out to a 15-3 lead five minutes into the game after a three-pointer from Cumpstone, while junior Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet) buried two of his three triples on the afternoon during that stretch. Back to back three-pointers by Logan extended the Skyhawks lead to 16 (23-7) as the first half reached its midpoint. Saint Michael's came to life with an 11-1 run over the next four minutes to cut its deficit to six (24-18) after a Crawford layup with 5:48 remaining in the half.

Cambronne pulled Saint Michael's within three (27-24) with a three-pointer with 3:32 left in the half and then got the Purple Knights within a point (32-31) with another triple two minutes later. Cole sent Stonehill into halftime with a three-point lead (34-31) with the final basket of the half, but Ditlefsen opened the second half with a three ball to knot the score (34-34) after just 13 seconds.

Cambronne gave Saint Michael's its first lead of the night with a jumper a minute later, but Stonehill recovered and regained an eight point lead (54-46) with 13:54 to play after back to back baskets from Cumpstone. Logan sparked the run with a pair of three-pointers for the Skyhawks.

Saint Michael's answered with an 11-0 run to take the lead back (57-54) after two free-throws by Holton, Jr., with 8:28 to play. Back to back three-pointers from Cumpstone and Smith put Stonehill back in front (60-57) with 7:50 remaining. The lead see-sawed back and forth before the Purple Knights took a three point lead (68-65) with a tip-in from senior Mike Thompson (Rosedale, New York/Christ the King) with 3:22 to play.

Cumpstone drew Stonehill level once again with a three-pointer, before Ditlefsen connected from deep to push Saint Michael's back in front (71-68) with 2:31 to go. Stonehill equalized yet again on a triple by Logan, but the Skyhawks would come up empty over the final 1:47. Holton, Jr., scored the final four points of the contest to give the Purple Knights their third straight win.

Stonehill (15-7, 10-6 NE-10) returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Assumption College at 7:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (15-6, 11-5 NE-10) visits Saint Anselm College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

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