Burnett scored a season-high 19 points with three rebounds, three assists and three steals. (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

Sims and Burnett combine for 40 points to lead Skyhawks

WEST POINT, N.Y. (November 12, 2022) – Stonehill College earned its first NCAA Division I win with an 82-77 triumph over Army West Point at Christl Arena this afternoon.

Stonehill, which is in its first year of a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I status as members of the Northeast Conference, shot 63.3-percent from the floor in the first half on its way to a 44-34 halftime lead and held off a second half Army rally to clinch its first win at the Division I level. Fifth-years Andrew Sims and Isaiah Burnett combined for 40 of the Skyhawks 82 points on the afternoon. Sims reached 20 points for the second-straight game, finishing with a game-high matching 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, with a season-high eight rebounds, two blocked shots, an assist and steal, while Burnett added a season-best 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, with three boards, three assists and three steals.

Junior Jalen Rucker led Army with 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting, converting 7-of-8 free-throws, to go with six rebounds and three assists. Freshman Coleton Benson added 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-6 from three-point distance, converting all five free-throws to go with three boards and a steal. 

Sims scored 20 points for the second-straight game, finishing with a team high 21 points for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

Leaders

Stonehill

Sims: 21 points (9-for-11), 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist, steal.

Burnett: 19 points (6-for-10, 6-for-8 FTs), including 12 in the second half, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals.

Thatcher Stone Junior, Guard: Career-high 15 points (7-for-14), including 13 in the first half, four rebounds, steal.

Army

Rucker: 21 points (6-for-15, 7-for-8 FTs), 6 rebounds, 3 assists.

Benson: 20 points (6-for-12), 3 rebounds.

Chris Mann Senior, Forward: 16 points (7-for-13), 5 rebounds, assist.

How it Happened

• Stonehill scored the first four points of the game on layups from Burnett and Stone to grab an early advantage, grabbing a five-point lead (7-2) after a Josh Mack three-pointer two and a half minutes in.
• Stonehill stretched its lead to nine (25-16) after another Burnett layup midway through the half, before Army closed back within five (25-20) after a Mann layup with 8:55 left in the half.
• The Skyhawks extended the lead to 11 (33-22) with a Stone layup with 5:34 remaining and they would carry a ten-point lead (44-34) into halftime after burying 63.3-percent (19-for-30) of their shots in the opening 20 minutes, including 5-for-11 (45.5%) from three.

• Stone scored 13 of his career-best 15 points in the first half to help the Skyhawks build an early lead (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

  Stonehill quickly pushed its lead to 14 (48-34) on baskets by Sims and Zegarowski less than a minute into the second half.
• Army responded with a quick six to pull back within eight (48-40) two and a half in after four points each from Rucker and junior Jared Cross.
• The Black Knights crept within five (51-46) on a Benson layup less than five minutes into the half and then drew within four (53-49) with a Benson three with 13-minutes to go.
• Stonehill restored a seven-point cushion (60-53) with a Burnett triple midway through the half and then Army used a 15-6 stretch to grab its first lead (68-66) with two Rucker free-throws with six minutes remaining.
• Postgrad Cole Bergan drained a three to push Stonehill back in front (69-68) and the lead went back and forth until the Skyhawks scored six straight to turn a one-point deficit (76-75) after an Ethan Roberts three with 1:06 to play.
• Burnett pushed Stonehill back in front with a jumper in the paint and then Bergan and Sims converted free-throws to seal the win in the closing seconds.

Noteworthy

• This afternoon marked the first ever meeting between Stonehill and Army.
• Sims posts his second-straight 20-point game, the tenth of his career and 32^nd career double-figure scoring effort.
• Stone's career-high 15 points betters his previous best of nine against Quinnipiac University on Thursday.
• Burnett's season-high 19 points is his fifth-straight double-figure scoring game dating back to last season and 18^th of his career.
• The Skyhawks outscored Army 24-12 in the paint in the first half to finish 40-34 overall.
• Stonehill led for all but 63-seconds in the game.
• Stonehill finished shooting 52.5-percent (31-for-59) from the field.

Coach's Corner

"I'm so proud of our team," said Stonehill head coach Chris Kraus '06. "We talked about competing and leaving it all out there for 40 minutes and that's what it took to get the win. Such a special moment and win for our school, program and team. It took our group to be 'tough and together' to win at such a prestigious place like West Point."

Up Next

Stonehill (1-2, 0-0 NEC) returns to action on Tuesday, when it visits Providence College in a game that will be broadcast live on FS2, from the Amica Mutual Pavilion at 5 p.m. Stonehill's next home game is Wednesday, November 30, when it hosts Eastern Nazarene College at Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Army (1-1, 0-0 Patriot) visits Siena College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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