Moreton notched his 20th career double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix) |
Twitty and Moreton lead Skyhawks to season-opening win
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (November 9, 2019) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 6 in the D2SIDA East Region poll, overcame an eight point deficit in the second half to claim a 61-55 season-opening triumph over University of District of Columbia in non-conference men's basketball action hosted by University of the Sciences at Bobby Morgan Arena tonight.
Seniors Brandon Twitty and Will Moreton led three from Stonehill in double-figures on the night, with Moreton notching his 20th career double-double. Twitty netted a game-high 21 points on 10-of-19 shooting, with four rebounds and two steals, while Moreton netted 13 of his 17 points in the first half and totaled a game-high 12 rebounds, with four assists. Junior Owen Chose scored all 14 of hits points off the bench in the second half, finishing 3-of-6 from the floor, including 2-for-5 from three, and converting all six free throws, while adding four rebounds. Senior Michael Boen chipped in with nine boards, two assists and two steals.
Sophomore Jahmir Williams led a balanced effort for District of Columbia with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench, adding five rebounds and four assists. Senior Zachary Olukanni added 11 points and six rebounds, while junior Quran Dublin totaled 11 points on 4-of- 8 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep, and three assists. Sophomore Juanye Colon rounded out the Firebirds in double-figures with ten points, while senior Aaren Smith pulled down a team-high 11 boards.
Twitty netted a game-high 21 points to lead the Skyhawks on Saturday night (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix) |
UDC used an 11-2 run to turn a three-point deficit (21-18) after a Moreton basket with eight minutes remaining in the first half, into a six point lead (29-23) following a Colon jumper with 4:16 to play. Colon had six points in all during that run that was sparked by a three-pointer from Dublin.
UDC took that cushion (37-31) into halftime and stretched the lead to eight (41-33) five minutes into the second half after consecutive baskets from Olukanni. Stonehill followed with eight of the next nine points as part of a greater 14-3 run to regain the lead. Moreton sparked the run with a three-point play and made one of two at the line for a five point lead (49-44) with 7:28 remaining as Twitty netted seven points during the stretch for the Skyhawks.
Stonehill extended its lead to nine (55-46) after five straight points from Chose before UDC responded with seven straight to close back within two (55-53) with 2:32 left. The Skyhawks did the rest from the free throw as Chose canned all six attempts, including 4-for-4 in the final 30-seconds, to seal the win.
Stonehill (1-0, 0-0 NE10) is right back in action on Sunday, when it faces Saint Thomas Aquinas College, receiving votes in both Division II national poll and ranked No. 4 in the D2SIDA East Region poll, at Morgan Arena at noon. The Skyhawks home opener is Saturday, November 23, against Saint Michael's College for a Northeast-10 Conference clash at Merkert Gymnasium at 3:30 p.m. UDC (0-1, 0-0 ECC) faces host USciences tomorrow at 2 p.m.
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