Chose drained seven threes on his way to a game-high 27 to lead four Skyhawks in double-figures tonight (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Chose leads four Skyhawks in double-figures with game-high 27

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 25, 2022) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 8 in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, placed four in double-figures and shot nearly 50-percent from the field in securing an 80-70 victory over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium tonight. 

Leaders

Stonehill
Owen Chose 5^th-year, Guard: Game-high 27 points (9-for-18, 7-for-15 threes), including 16 second half, 2 rebounds.
Andrew Sims Senior, Forward: 18 points (6-for-9 FGs), including 14 second half, 6 rebounds, 4 assists.
Christopher Melis Freshman, Forward: 16 points (8-for-10 FGs), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, steal.
Myles Hanson Senior, Forward: 10 points (10-for-12 FGs), 5 rebounds, 2 steals. 

American International
Donavan Miller Freshman, Guard: 21 points (9-for-13, 3-for-5 threes), including 13 second half, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, steal.
Shyheim Hicks Senior, Guard: 14 points (4-for-10 threes), 4 rebounds, steal.
Xion Golding Postgrad, Guard: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals. 

How it Happened

• Melis added 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal. (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

  Stonehill led start to finish as Chose opened the scoring with his first of seven three-pointers on the night on the Skyhawks first possession as the visitors scored the first seven points of the game, the next four by Melis, on their way to a nine-point cushion (13-4) after another Chose triple 3:20 into the contest.
• Stonehill stretched its lead to 11 (23-12) after a Melis putback with 11:51 remaining in the first half.
• Trailing by 10 (30-20) after two Hanson free-throws with 6:49 left in the first half, AIC used an 11-2 run to close within a point (32-31) when sophomore Jalen Jordan made one of two at the free-throw line with 2:03 remaining in the half.
• Stonehill scored the final four of the frame to carry a five-point lead (36-31) into halftime after a Chose jumper with two-seconds left.
• Stonehill extended the run to 22-4 over the first six minutes of the second half to open a 19-point advantage (54-35) after a Sims layup. Chose sparked the 18-4 run to start the second half with a pair of three-pointers and scored 11 points during the wave overall.
• While Stonehill wouldn't allow AIC back within double figures until the waning moments, the Yellow Jackets first trimmed the lead down to 11 (67-56) after a Hicks three with 5:11 still to play.
• Stonehill answered with a Melis layup and Chose three to push the lead back to 16 (72-56) a minute later, but AIC rallied again with a 9-1 spurt to close within eight (73-65) following two Hicks free-throws with 95-seconds to play.
• Stonehill closed the game out from there, draining its next four free-throws and 5-of-6 overall, before senior Isaiah Burnett and Miller traded layups at the end to complete the scoring.

Noteworthy

• Chose scored his fifth 20-point game of the season (16^th career), all coming within the last seven games, with his 11^th double-figure scoring game of the year (58^th career).
• Chose moved into 26^th place on Stonehill's career scoring list with his 1,207 career points and is now within 100-points of cracking the top 20 in 96 career games played.
• Sims reached double-figures for the fourth-straight game and fell just two points shy of his fourth-straight 20-point outing, posting his 12^th double-figure game this season (24^th career).
• Melis scored in double-figures for the third time in his first collegiate season – finishing six shy of his season-best.
• Hanson also reached double-digits for the third time this season – second over the last three games played.
• Stonehill made the most of AIC's 13 turnovers (compared to 12 for the Skyhawks) with a 20-5 advantage in points off.
• Stonehill finished shooting 49.1-percent (26-for-53) on the night, including 50% (12-24) in the first half. The Skyhawks also outscored the Yellow Jackets 19-7 at the free-throw line.

Up Next

Stonehill (11-7, 7-5 NE10) is scheduled to be back in action on Saturday at Merkert Gymnasium to host The College of Saint Rose at 3:30 p.m. AIC (6-14, 3-9 NE10) visits Franklin Pierce University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

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