Men's Basketball

February 24, 2007

Men's Basketball Bests Assumption, 68-60, In NE-10 Tournament


COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael's College men's basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 68-60 win versus Assumption College in the First Round of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament at the Ross Sports Center. With the win, Saint Michael's advances to the NE-10 Quarterfinals, where the sixth-seeded Purple Knights will visit third-seeded College of Saint Rose on Monday at 7 p.m.

The win marks the Purple Knights' first playoff victory since Saint Michael's advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the 2001 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. The contest was also the Purple Knights' first playoff game since 2002.

For Saint Michael's (16-12), junior Brian Monahan (Kinderhook, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) led four players in double figures with 19 points and 13 rebounds, his 12th double-double of the season. Classmate James Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael Academy) added 14 points, hitting 7-of-8 free throws, while senior Chris Cayole (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) chipped in with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Senior Brendan Mullins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) recorded 11 points, six assists and four steals as the Purple Knights forced 21 turnovers while committing just nine.

For Assumption (11-17), the 11th-seed in the NE-10 Tournament, junior Mike Foti (Franklin, Mass.) was the lone player to score in double figures, tallying 12 points off the bench. Classmate Corey Diethorn (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added eight points, 14 rebounds and four blocks for Assumption, which outrebounded the Purple Knights 45-30, but made just 1-of-11 3-pointers and 11-of-17 free throws.

Neither team could take control in an evenly-played first half, as the Greyhounds held a 28-26 lead at intermission. The period featured five ties and 10 lead changes, with the biggest lead a 4-0 Assumption advantage early in the contest. Neither team shot well in the first half, with Assumption making just 10-of-30 shots from the field (33 percent), and Saint Michael's 9-of-26 (35 percent). The Greyhounds, however, were aided by a 27-15 rebounding advantage in the stanza, as nine players scored in the period for Assumption.

Assumption still held a four-point lead, 34-30, with 17 minutes remaining, before Saint Michael's went on a 14-0 run over the next 4:30 to take the lead for good at 44-34. The game-changing run was highlighted by two dunks from Cayole, as he scored nine second-half points. The Greyhounds pulled to within three points on three occasions, the last time on a pair of free throws from junior Greg Twomey (Groton, Mass.) with 3:07 to go, cutting the deficit to 57-54. Saint Michael's, however, sealed the win at the free throw line in the closing minutes, as the Purple Knights made 9-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes to clinch the victory.

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