Roberts and Singleton lead Knights into NEC lead
Sims nets 1,000th career point for Skyhawks
Sims scores his 1,000th career point in the second half tonight. He's the 43rd in program history to reach the milestone (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce) |
EASTON, Mass. (January 16, 2023) – Fairleigh Dickinson University took over sole possession of first place in the Northeast Conference standings with a 65-57 victory over Stonehill College in NEC men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.
The loss spoiled a milestone night for Stonehill fifth-year Andrew Sims, who became the 43rd player in program history to reach the 1,000-career point plateau. He has scored 1,000-points in 92 career games after finishing the night with six, along with five rebounds.
Postgrads Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton, a pair of transfers from Saint Thomas Aquinas College along with FDU first year coach Tobin Anderson, combined for 39 points to lead the Knights to their sixth-straight win. Roberts scored 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, aided by 10-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, to go with three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Singleton added 18 points, including 14 in the first half, connecting on 4-of-7 three-pointers, with six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Junior Joe Munden, Jr. (Harlem, New York/Monsignor Scanlan) rounded out FDU's double-figure scorers with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-for-4 from three, and five boards.
Fifth-year Isaiah Burnett led Stonehill with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-for-8 from three-point distance, with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Postgrad Max Zegarowski added 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three, with two boards, two assists and a steal.
Stonehill grabbed a quick lead (5-2) behind five points from Burnett on a three-pointer and fastbreak dunk off his own steal two and a half minutes into the game. FDU responded with 11-straight points, keyed by three-straight triples from Singleton, to take an eight-point lead (13-5) after a Roberts free-throw after five minutes. The Knights stretched their lead to ten (17-7) with a Singleton layup four minutes later, but the Skyhawks got back-to-back threes from Zegarowski and fifth-year Josh Mack to close back within four (17-13) three minutes after.
Burnett paced the Skyhawks with 20 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce) |
FDU worked its lead back to nine (22-13) when Stonehill reeled off eight straight to draw within a point (22-21) after a Shamir Johnson three with 3:17 to play in the half. The Knights took a five-point lead (30-25) into halftime, and then Singleton opened the second half scoring with a layup, but Stonehill followed with seven-straight points, five by Burnett including a three-pointer, to knot the score (32-32) three and a half minutes in.
Roberts quelled the rally with a three and FDU wouldn't allow Stonehill to reclaim the lead, following a Sims layup with eight-straight to open a nine-point cushion (43-34) after back-to-back threes from Munden, Jr. Stonehill pulled back within two (45-43) after two Burnett threes two minutes apart, with 9:11 to play, but the Knights had the answer for each of the Skyhawks runs down the stretch.
Stonehill was able to draw within a possession four times over the last nine minutes, but couldn't pull even or grab a lead. Up two (51-49) after two Burnett free-throws with six minutes left, FDU followed with five straight to reclaim a seven-point lead (56-49) after a layup from senior Heru Bligen with four minutes to go.
Sims 1,000th career point had Stonehill back within three (56-53) with 3:02 on the clock, but FDU closed the game out from there, as Roberts scored the Knights last nine points, including seven at the free-throw line on eight attempts.
Noteworthy
- Stonehill nearly held its fourth-straight opponent under 40-percent shooting as FDU finished at 40.4-percent from the floor, including 8-for-28 (28.6%) from three.
- Burnett posted his third 20-point game of the season (sixth career), scoring in double figures for the 30th time in his career. The NEC steals leader also extended his streak with at least one steal in 26-straight games dating back to last year.
- Zegarowski scored in double-figures for the 12th time this season (47 career), and has scored 932 points in 80 career games played in his collegiate career, including his time at Franklin Pierce and Lynn University.
- Stonehill and FDU were meeting for the fifth time, but the first since the 1973-74 season. Stonehill now holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series that dates back to 1965.
- Tonight was part of a full slate of NEC men's and women's games on the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday with all Conference teams wearing NEC "Speaks Up" warmups in recognition of the day.
Up Next
Stonehill (7-13, 3-3 NEC) hits the road for its next three games, starting Friday at LIU for an NEC matchup at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Saturday, January 28, to host Sacred Heart University at 2 p.m. FDU (12-8, 5-0 NEC) hosts Sacred Heart on Friday at 7 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.
