Melis and Benigni combine for 38 off the bench to lead Skyhawks   

Melis made all nine of his shots from the floor to score a game and season-best 22 points in his Merkert Gym debut tonight (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportPix)

EASTON, Mass. (November 17, 2021) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll and ranked No. 10 in the D2SIDA Division II East Region poll, held the University of Bridgeport to 32.7-percent shooting and got 43 points from its bench in posting a 69-50 victory in non-conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight. 

The Details

• Freshman Christopher Melis and sophomore Jackson Benigni combined for 38 of Stonehill 43 bench points on the night.
• Melis made all nine of his shots from the floor, including a three-pointer, and canned all three free-throw attempts for a season and game-high 22 points, including 14 in the first half, to lead three Skyhawks in double-figures, while adding four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes off the bench.
• Benigni scored ten of his season-high 16 points in the second half, with seven rebounds, four assists and a steal in 35 minutes of the bench.

• Beningni also posted a season-best for the Skyhawks with 16 points (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

  Senior Andrew Sims rounded out the Skyhawks in double figures with ten points on 5-of-10 shooting, a game-high nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while classmate Josh Mack chipped in nine points, two boards, an assist and three steals.
• Junior Malcolm Moye was the lone Bridgeport player in double figures with 12 points, adding two rebounds and two assists.
• Bridgeport jumped out to a quick nine-point lead (11-9) after a Dawson steal and fastbreak layup three minutes into the game. Dawson scored five points during the run.
• Stonehill responded with the next 11 points, including six-straight from Melis, to grab its first lead since the opening basket of the game, after a driving layup from senior Myles Hanson with 13:16 left in the half.
• Stonehill used a 14-3 run to open a nine-point lead of its own (29-20) after a layup from Mack with 7:32 left in the half, and keyed by another seven-straight from Melis.
• Bridgeport was able to close back within three (35-32) after a three-pointer from junior Mason Williams with a minute left in the half, but Melis restored a five-point cushion for the Skyhawks with the final basket of the half.
• Bridgeport was back within two, forcing a Stonehill timeout, twice within the first four minutes of the second half, but the Skyhawks were able to reclaim a nine-point lead (46-37) with a steal and dunk from senior Isaiah Burnett two minutes later.
• Stonehill lead held there until it scored ten-straight, including six from Melis on a pair of three-point plays, to open a 17-point bulge (58-41) with 8:37 remaining and the outcome wouldn't be in doubt from there.

Up Next

Stonehill (2-1, 0-0 NE10) returns to action on Saturday, when it visits Saint Michael's College for its Northeast-10 Conference opener in Colchester, Vermont, at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks are back home next Tuesday, November 23, to host rival Bentley University for an NE10 matchup at Merkert Gym at 7:30 p.m. 

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.