Sims game-high 24 points powers Skyhawks into NE10 Quarterfinals

Sims led all scorers with 24 points as the Skyhawks reached the quarterfinal round (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

EASTON, Mass. (February 25, 2022) – Northeast Division No. 4-seeded Stonehill College held Southwest No. 5 Le Moyne College under 30-percent shooting in the second half on its way to a 58-52 triumph in first round action of the 2022 Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Stonehill (15-11, 10-9 NE10) advances to Monday's NE10 Quarterfinal round where it will face Southwest top-seeded Pace University (18-8, 14-5 NE10), ranked fifth in this week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, in Pleasantville, New York, at 7:30 p.m. The Setters received a first round bye as the Southwest Division's top seed and NE10 regular season champions. Le Moyne sees its season come to a close with a 12-15 record overall, including 8-11 in the NE10. 

Leaders

Stonehill
Andrew Sims Senior, Forward: 24 points (9-for-17), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, blocked shots.
Isaiah Burnett Senior, Guard: 11 points (3-for-4, 1-for-1 threes), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, block.
Emmanuel Bonsu Sophomore, Guard: 9 points (4-for-7), 6 rebounds, blocked shot. 

Le Moyne
Nino Hernandez Senior, Guard: 10 points (4-for-5), 6 rebounds, 2 steals.
Jeremiah Washington Sophomore, Guard: 9 points, 2 assists. 

How it Happened

• Burnett added 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

  Stonehill got off to a fast start, opening an eight-point lead (10-2) after a Myles Hanson layup less than five minutes into the game, led by four points each from Sims and freshman Christopher Melis.
• Stonehill stretched its lead to 11 (21-10) after two free-throws by Burnett with 8:57 remaining in the first half.
• Le Moyne rallied with ten-straight points, sparked by a three-point play from Hernandez, to pull back within a point (23-22) after a layup from junior Xavier Wilson with 4:16 left in the half.
• That was the start of a 19-2 Le Moyne run to close out the first half to take a six-point lead (31-25) into halftime, scoring the last nine points of the half, including five points by freshman Kevin Constant.
• Sims scored the first four points of the second half, but Le Moyne regained a five-point cushion (36-31) after a three-point play by Hernandez less than four minutes in.
• Stonehill pulled even (38-38) on a Burnett three-pointer with 13:50 to play, but Le Moyne restored a four-point cushion (42-38) after a Constant layup a minute later.
• Stonehill drew even again (42-42) with a Bonsu layup a minute after that, but the Dolphins grabbed another four-point margin (46-42) after a driving layup from sophomore Luke Sutherland at the halfway point of the half.
• The Skyhawks regained the lead for the first time in the half after two Burnett free-throws with 8:37 to play and the teams traded the lead back and forth until Stonehill fifth-year Owen Chose stretched the lead to three (53-50) with 4:35 left.
• The teams traded baskets and then Sims extended the Stonehill lead to four (56-52) by hitting one of two at the free-throw line with 48-seconds to play.
• Le Moyne wouldn't score over the final 2:25 as Stonehill closed out the win at the free-throw line.

Noteworthy

• Sims reached double-figures in scoring for the 19^th game (30^th career) with his sixth 20-point game of the season (8^th career).
• Burnett reached double-figures for the 14^th time this season, leading the Skyhawks in rebounds for the third time, marking the first time Stonehill won while he does so.
• Stonehill held Le Moyne 20 points under its season scoring average, limiting the Dolphins to 28.6-percent shooting (8-for-28) in the second half, including 0-for-6 from deep.
• Hernandez was the lone Dolphin scoring in double-figures.

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