Senior Adam Bramanti netted a career-high 23 points to lead the Skyhawks to victory. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix) |
Smith becomes program's 38th 1,000-point scorer with 14 point day
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (December 20, 2015) – Stonehill College, ranked fifth in this week's D2SIDA East Regional poll, capped its first semester schedule on a winning note with an 89-85 victory over Bloomfield College in non-conference men's basketball action at The Gym this afternoon.
Senior Adam Bramanti (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet Regional) scored a career-high 23 points, while classmate Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio/Kenston) and junior Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) each notched double-doubles to lead Stonehill to victory. Bramanti made 7-of-13 shots from the field in his career-best scoring effort, including 5-for-11 from three-point range, converting all four free-throw attempts to go with three rebounds and three assists. Logan posted his sixth double-double of the season (13th career) with 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to go with seven assists, a blocked shot and steal, shooting 8-for-12 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Cumpstone added 14 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year (eighth career), shooting 7-for-11 from the field and adding two assists and two blocks. It marks the third time this season Logan and Cumpstone have notched double-doubles in the same game.
Senior Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) contributed 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting from deep to become the 38th student-athlete in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau in his career. He finished the game with 1,007 points in 92 career games played to rank 36th all-time with Justin LoVerme '01 and Matt Hall '09, adding three rebounds and two assists. Classmate Daniel Brix (Monroe Township, New Jersey/Saint Joseph) chipped in with seven points, six assists and four boards.
Sophomore Nick Davidson (Lumberton, New Jersey/Rancocas Valley) led Bloomfield with a game-high 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting off the bench, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, with four rebounds and two assists. Freshman Safee Abdus-Sabur (Newark, New Jersey/Hudson Catholic) added 19 points on 7-of-21 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while classmate Robert Lewis (Jersey City, New Jersey/St. Mary of Assumption) registered 12 points as he made all five of his shots from the field and converted both free-throws to go with three boards.
Senior Carter Smith stuck four three-pointers for 12 points to become the program's 38th 1,000-point scorer. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix) |
Stonehill shot 55-percent from the field (33-for-60) for the afternoon, including 60% (18-30) in the second half to seal the win. The Skyhawks buried 14-of-31 attempts from three-point distance (45.2%) and posted a commanding 41-28 rebounding advantage to aid in outscoring Bloomfield 25-8 in second chance points. The Bears held an 18-4 edge in points off turnovers as Stonehill turned the ball over 17 times, compared to just seven giveaways for the hosts. Bloomfield shot 48.4% (31-64) from the floor, including 54.8% (17-31) in the second half, connecting on 8-of-17 (47.1%) three-pointers.
Stonehill led nearly start to finish, building as much as 22 late in the second half, before Bloomfield made a late run. Abdus-Sabur canned a three-pointer to put Bloomfield in front (16-14) with 11:24 left in the first half, but the Skyhawks scored eight straight to take a six point lead (22-16) after a Smith three with 8:24 to play in the half. Davidson scored four straight to pull the Bears back within two (22-20) a minute later, but Stonehill forged its first double-digit lead (40-30) after a layup from senior Stuart McEwen (Sydney, Australia/Saint Thomas More (Conn.)) with 1:35 to go in the half. Logan, Bramanti and sophomore Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) all drilled triples during the Skyhawks 15-8 run that produced the ten point lead.
Stonehill took a nine point lead (42-33) into halftime and Bloomfield trimmed the lead to five (44-39) after two free-throws by sophomore Juan Brown (Annapolis, Maryland/Annapolis) two minutes into the second half. The Skyhawks responded with seven straight points, including four by Bramanti, to take a 12 point lead (51-39) after four minutes.
Bloomfield used a 14-2 run to close back within two (53-51) on an Abdus-Sabur three-pointer with 12 minutes to play. Stonehill answered that with 11 straight points for a 13 point margin (64-51) after a Bramanti three-pointer midway through the second half. Carter buried back to back triples during that stretch to surpass the 1,000-point plateau. The Skyhawks extended the run to 28-8 to take a game-high 22 point lead (81-59) with 6:30 left. Smith, Bramanti and Logan buried consecutive shots from long distance for Stonehill to close out the run.
Bloomfield wouldn't go away without a fight, climbing back within seven (85-78) after a Davidson three-pointer with 68-seconds on the clock. Stonehill made all four free-throws from there to seal the win with Bears junior Ahmid Williams (Monroe, New Jersey/Plainfield) providing the final margin with a three-pointer with a second left.
Stonehill (9-2, 4-2 NE-10) is off for the holiday break and will return to action next Wednesday, December 30, at the University of Bridgeport for a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks don't return home until after the New Year when they host Le Moyne College on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. Bloomfield (3-7, 3-2 CACC) hosts Saint Thomas Aquinas College next Thursday, December 31, at 1 p.m.
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