Melis posted 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Powell's 24 points on near-perfect shooting leads Setters to semifinals

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (February 28, 2022) – Southwest Division top-seed Pace University shot 56.4-percent from the floor on its way to an 83-73 victory over Northeast Division No. 4 Stonehill College in quarterfinal round action of the 2022 Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball tournament at the Goldstein Athletic Center tonight.

Pace (19-8, 14-5 NE10) advances to the semifinal round of the NE10 Tournament for just the third time in the program's history and will host Northeast Division No. 2 Franklin Pierce University (17-9, 12-7 NE10) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Ravens advanced with an 86-73 victory over Northeast No. 6 Assumption University in their quarterfinal tonight in Rindge, New Hampshire. Stonehill sees its season come to a close with a 15-12 record overall, including 10-9 in the NE10, making its fourth-straight NE10 Tournament appearance and 34^th in program history overall. 

Leaders

Stonehill
Christopher Melis Freshman, Forward: 15 points (6-for-10), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, steal and blocked shot.
Owen Chose Fifth-year, Guard: 17 points (7-for-12, 3-for-5 threes), 3 assists.
Josh Mack Senior, Guard: 11 points (4-for-7, 3-for-4 threes), 3 rebounds.
Andrew Sims Senior, Forward: 10 points, 6 rebounds. 

Pace
Bryan Powell Junior, Forward: 24 points (9-for-11, 3-for-3 threes), 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots.
Dominick Cristiano Postgrad, Forward: 15 points (7-for-7), 5 rebounds off the bench.
Brandon Jacobs Postgrad, Guard: 13 points, 6 assists, 2 steals.
Austin Gilbertson Postgrad, Guard: 12 points (6-for-10), 8 assists. 

How it Happened

• Chose scored a team-high 17 points in what proved to be his final game for the Skyhawks, finishing ranked 20th on the program's career scoring list, finishing third for career three-pointers (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

  Pace led start to finish, building a ten-point halftime lead (37-27) and then making it stand over the final 20 minutes to advance.
• Powell scored the first five points of the game and Pace's first ten overall as the Setters staked out a 10-2 lead less than five minutes into the game.
• Stonehill closed to within three twice in the last ten minutes of the first half, but Pace followed a turnaround jumper from Skyhawks senior Isaiah Burnett with the final seven points of the half to take a ten-point lead (37-27) into halftime.
• Pace extended its lead to 12 (43-31) with a layup from Christiano two minutes into the second half, but Stonehill got back into the game with an 11-2 run to draw within three (45-42) just over five minutes into the half after five straight points from Chose.
• Stonehill drew within a point (48-47) after a layup by Sims with 12:27 remaining, but Pace recouped an eight-point cushion (57-49) after a layup from Gilbertson the midway point of the second half.
• Stonehill closed within a possession again (59-57) after a layup from senior Miles Hanson with 8:00 still to play.
• Pace wouldn't relinquish the lead, however, regaining a nine-point lead (70-61) after a layup by Jacobs with four minutes to go.
• Stonehill made one last push to within six (74-68) after a three-pointer from Chose with 1:50 remaining, but would get no closer, as Pace scored five of the next seven points to open an 11-point cushion (81-71) after a Powell dunk with 66-seconds to play to seal the win.

Noteworthy

• Powell scored 19 points in the second half as Pace shot 63-percent (17-for-27) from the floor, including 3-for-6 from three, over the final 20 minutes.
• Chose's team-high 17 points give him 1,335 points in 105 career games played to finish his career ranked 20^th on Stonehill's career scoring list, while moving into third place all-time with his 248 career three-point field goals.
• Sims reached double-figures in scoring for the 20^th game (31^st career).
• Burnett reached double-figures for the 15^th time this season.
• Melis posted his fourth double-figure scoring game of his freshman season.
• Pace turned 16 Stonehill turnovers into a 22-10 scoring advantage in points off.

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