Largey scored a season-high 27 points to lead three Skyhawks in double-figures tonight. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
Largey's season-high 27 points lead Skyhawks to victory
LAKELAND, Fla. (November 23, 2018) – Stonehill College jumped out to a 17-point first half lead and made it stand the rest of the way in picking up a 76-67 victory over Saint Leo University on day one of the Terrace Hotels Classic, hosted by Florida Southern College, at Jenkins Fieldhouse tonight.
Junior Dan Largey poured in a season-high 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-for-9 from three-point distance, while converting all four free-throw attempts to lead three from Stonehill in double figures. He also collected a team-high nine rebounds and added two assists and two steals. Junior Will Moreton scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half, to go with eight rebounds and two assists, while classmate Brandon Twitty finished with ten points and four assists. Freshman Andrew Sims chipped in with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, four boards and a blocked shot in 15 minutes off the bench.
Junior Yalen Reed led four Saint Leo players in double-figures with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and three blocks. Senior Junior Searcy added 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while junior Isaiah Hill totaled ten points, seven boards, three assists, two blocks and three steals. Junior Kyran McClure rounded out the Lions double-figure scorers with 12 points.
Stonehill trailed by four (7-3) three minutes into the game, but reeled off 14-straight points, buoyed by four points from Sims and capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Moreton and Largey to grab a ten point lead (17-7) eight minutes into the half. The Skyhawks wouldn't trail again and stretched the run to 20-2 for a 14-point cushion (23-9) after a three-point play by senior Joel Berroa midway through the frame. Stonehill's lead peaked at 17 (36-19) after a Berroa layup with 1:44 remaining in the half, before the Skyhawks carried a 13-point advantage (38-25) into halftime.
Moreton scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half to help the Skyhawks close out the win. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
Saint Leo scored the first six points of the second half to close back within seven (38-31) after a Reed dunk, but Stonehill answered with five-straight by Largey to reclaim a double-figure lead (43-31) after three minutes. The Lions run extended to 19-5 going back into the first half to draw within three (43-40) on a dunk from senior Daniel Duarte five minutes into the second half.
Twitty connected with a three-pointer as Stonehill restored a nine-point lead (49-40) two minutes later, and the lead stayed between six and nine points until the Skyhawks grabbed an 11-point advantage (58-47) after a Moreton jumper halfway through the frame. Saint Leo again crept within five (65-60) following two Searcy free-throws with 5:41 remaining, but Stonehill again answered, behind four-straight by Moreton and capped by a Largey triple to reclaim a 12-point lead (72-60) with 3:34 to go.
Searcy connected from beyond the arc to draw Saint Leo back within seven (72-65) with 1:18 left, but Stonehill held, converting four-straight from the free-throw line in the final minute to seal the win.
Stonehill (3-3, 1-2 NE10) is right back on the court tomorrow night, when it faces host Florida Southern, ranked 12th in this week's NABC poll and 11th in the D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll, on day two of the Terrace Hotels Classic at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Wednesday, November 28, host Merrimack College for an NE10 matchup at 7:30 p.m. Saint Leo (2-3, 0-0 SSC) faces Merrimack tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.
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