Burnett buried six three-pointers on his way to 22 points in today's win (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

Burnett buries six three-pointers on way to team-leading 22 points

EASTON, Mass. (December 5, 2021) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 24 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll and No. 2 in its East Region poll, shot 66.7-percent from the floor in the second half to erase a nine-point halftime deficit and remain unbeaten in Conference play with a 71-70 triumph over Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium this afternoon.

Leaders

Stonehill
Isaiah Burnett Senior, Guard: 22 points (8-for-16, 6-for-11 threes), four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Jackson Benigni Sophomore, Guard: 15 points (5-of-8, 1-1 threes, 4-5 FTs), 6 rebounds, three assists off the bench.
Josh Mack Senior, Guard: 9 points (4-for-5), 3 rebounds, 3 assists. 

Saint Anselm

Miles Tention Senior, Guard: 30 points (12-for-17, 5-for-9 threes), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals.
Gustav Suhr-Jessen Senior, Forward: 14 points (6-for-12), 8 rebounds.
Chris Paul Senior, Forward: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, blocked shot.

How it Happened

• Benigni scored ten of his 15 points after halftime for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney)

  Stonehill jumped out to a quick seven-point lead (14-7), but Saint Anselm reeled off 11-straight points to grab the lead (18-14) after a fastbreak layup from Paul off a turnover with 6:46 remaining in the opening half.
• Leading by one after a Burnett three-pointer with 4:25 to play in the first half, Saint Anselm extended its lead to nine (32-23) after a three from junior Matt Relihan with 1:47 remaining.
• Saint Anselm carried that margin into halftime and Stonehill scored the first eight points of the second half, keyed by back-to-back threes by Burnett, to close within one (35-34) after 2:17 of play.
• Saint Anselm was able to regain a seven-point edge (41-34) after a three-point play from Tention, but Stonehill was able to draw even (48-46) after a put back from senior Jack Schwietz with 13:20 still to play.
• Saint Anselm was able to keep Stonehill at bay initially, but Burnett buried a three-pointer midway through the half to put the Skyhawks back in front (55-53).
• Stonehill was able to stretch the advantage to six (66-60) after a Benigni layup off a Burnett steal with four minutes to go.
• Benigni scored a key layup with 22-seconds to play for a five point lead that looked to seal the win, but a Stonehill foul and two free-throws by sophomore Josh Menard had Saint Anselm back within a possession (71-68) with 18 ticks left.
• After a missed front end of a 1-and-1 by Stonehill, Saint Anselm had one last shot to force overtime, but a Tention three-pointer was off the mark and while Suhr-Jessen was able to get the put back in before the horn, the Skyhawks held on for the win.

Noteworthy

• Burnett scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half, while Benigni tallied ten of his 15 after the break to spur Stonehill.
• After three straight halves shooting under 40-percent from the floor, Stonehill erupted and connected on 66.7-percent (18-for-27) of its shots in the second half to spur the Skyhawks to the comeback win, bouncing back from Wednesday's setback to St. Thomas Aquinas College.
• Saint Anselm is just the second Stonehill opponent to score 70 points this season, snapping a streak of six-straight opponents held under 70 points, including five under 60 points.
• Burnett has scored in double-figures for the sixth-straight game and seventh time overall, with his third 20-point scoring outing.
• Benigni returned to double figures for the first time since netting 11 in a ten point win over Molloy College. He has scored in double digits for the sixth time in eight games to open his collegiate campaign.

Up Next

Stonehill (7-2, 3-0 NE10) is off for the next ten days, before returning to action at Franklin Pierce University for an NE10 battle on Wednesday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym to close out the semester schedule with an NE10 matchup with Assumption University on Monday, December 20, at 3 p.m. That afternoon will also wrap up the athletic department's Holiday Toy Drive to benefit My Brother's Keeper, with any fan bringing an unwrapped, packaged toy earning free admission to the game. Saint Anselm (3-3, 1-3 NE10) hosts Bloomfield University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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