Chose leads balance Skyhawks effort with 19 points

Chose scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to help the Skyhawks close out the win (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

EASTON, Mass. (January 13, 2022) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 5 in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, posted its highest scoring output of the season in notching an 88-82 victory over Southern New Hampshire University, ranked No. 10 in the region, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight. 

Leaders

Stonehill
Owen Chose Fifth-year, Guard: 19 points (6-for-10, 2-for-2 threes, 5-for-6 FTs), 4 rebounds, 2 assists.
Myles Hanson Senior, Forward: 16 points (5-for-8, 2-for-3 threes, 4-4 FTs), 3 rebounds, 3 steals, blocked shots.
Josh Mack Senior, Guard: 15 points (6-for-10, 3-for-4 threes), 2 assists, steal.
Christopher Melis Freshman, Forward: 8 points (4-for-6), 7 rebounds. 

Southern N.H.
Aaron Gray Freshman, Guard: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists.
Matt Becht Sophomore, Guard: 18 points (4-for-9 threes, 6-for-8 FTs), 5 rebounds.
Jacari Sanders Sophomore, Guard: 16 points (6-for-15), 5 assists, 2 steals.
Noah Kamba Sophomore, Guard: 13 points (3-for-6 threes), 3 assists, 2 steals. 

How it Happened

• Hanson scored 16 points and added three rebounds and three steals. (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

  Stonehill scored a season-high 88 points on 50-percent shooting (32-for-64) from the floor, including 58.6% (17-for-29) in the second half, connecting on 9-of-17 three-pointers (52.9%), including all five in the second half.
• Stonehill led by as much as eight (27-19) in the first half after a Hanson three-pointer with 8:11 to go before halftime, before settling for a two-point (38-36) edge at the break.
• Southern New Hampshire pulled even (43-43) after a layup from junior Ryan Layman less than three minutes into the second half, but Stonehill answered with six straight to reclaim a six-point advantage (49-43) after a layup by senior Shamir Johnson four minutes in.
• After four straight SNHU points, Stonehill extended its lead to 12 (67-55) on a layup from sophomore Emmanuel Bonsu with 9:27 remaining.
• Back-to-back three-pointers by Mack and Chose stretched the Stonehill lead to a game-high 16 (73-57) with eight minutes to go.
• SNHU responded with 11-straight points over the next two and a half minutes to close the gap to five (73-68) after two Layman free-throws with 5:30 to play.
• Stonehill pushed its lead back to eight three times over the next minute, but SNHU was able to cut the lead to a possession (80-77) on a Kamba three-pointer with 2:11 on the clock.
• Stonehill held there, however, converting all four free-throws and getting clutch baskets from Chose, who scored seven of his 19 during that stretch, and Hanson to seal the win.

Noteworthy

• Chose reached double figures for the fifth-straight game and moved into 28^th place on Stonehill's career scoring list with his 1,129 points in 92 career games, while his 212 career three-pointers ranks sixth all-time.
• Mack scored in double-figures for the fourth-straight game (8^th career).
• Hanson posted his third double-digit scoring effort of the season.
• Seven Skyhawks had seven or more points in the balanced scoring effort, with the trio of Hanson, Mack and Chose combining for 7-for-9 (77.8%) from three-point range.
• Stonehill's bench outscored the SNHU reserves 28-7 on the night.
• The Skyhawks posted a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers, forcing the Penmen into 16 miscues, while committing just 11.
• Stonehill's 88 points is its most in a regulation game since a 92-71 win at The College of Saint Rose on February 1, 2020. The Skyhawks netted 100 points in their triple-overtime NE10 semifinal battle with the University of New Haven on March 4, 2020.

Up Next

Stonehill (9-5, 5-3 NE10) returns to action on Saturday, when it visits New Haven, ranked No. 6 in the region, for an NE10 matchup at 3:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Saturday, January 22, to host Southern Connecticut State University at 3:30 p.m. SNHU (6-5, 2-4 NE10) visits Le Moyne College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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