Mike Baldarelli (28 points) leads Greyhounds men's basketball past Southern New Hampshire, 92-88, to clinch 14th 20-win season!

February 23, 2008

ASSUMPTION 92, SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE 88

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Freshman forward MIKE BALDARELLI (Sutton, MA/Holy Name) scored a season- and career-high 28 points leading Assumption College men's basketball past Southern New Hampshire, 92-88, in a Northeast-10 Conference game SATURDAY at the Laska Gym.

The win clinched third-place for the Greyhounds and a first-round bye in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference playoffs. The win also gave the team 20 wins for the 14th time in the long and storied history of the sport at the College. The Hounds are now 20-8 overall and 14-7 in conference play. Southern New Hampshire is now 12-14 overall and 9-12 in the conference.

The Greyhounds honored the seniors, forward/captain GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable), forward COREY DIETHORN (Pittsburgh, PA/Sewickley), forward MIKE FOTI (Franklin, MA/Franklin) and forward ALEX POPP (Wilmington, MA/Wilmington) before the game.

Twomey, who finished with 16 points, is now just two points short of becoming the 37th Greyhound with 1,000 career points, while Diethorn finished with 15 points including 14 in the first half on seven-for-eight (including converting a sophomore guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Ft. Washington, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) lob for a dunk). Shea finished with 14 points on a perfect shooting game with five-for-five from the floor including a three-pointer and three-for-three at the free throw line, along with five assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

The Penman got two superb performances from junior guard GERALD CARTER (Harlem, NY/Marist) (32 points, 8 rebounds) and senior center SAM CAREY (Manchester, NH/Central) (29 points, 10 rebounds).

The Greyhounds led, 43-42, at the half as Foti converted an offensive rebound at the buzzer.

Carey scored on an inside move with 15:39 left in the second half to put the Penmen in front 50-48 on a feed from junior guard TROY BOWEN (Nashua, NH/Nashua)---their last advantage of the game.

The Hounds' Bluford hit a jumper in the paint to tie it at 50-50. After Shea and Penman freshman guard CHACE MILLER (Fairfax, VA/Massanutten) traded three-pointers, Baldarelli made a free throw and Twomey made both ends of a two-shot foul opportunity followed by one of five Baldarelli three pointers as the Hounds built a six-point lead, 59-53.

An inside move by Foti on a nice feed from Shea and ensuing free throw gave the Greyhounds their largest lead, 13 points, at 74-61 with 9:34 left.

The Penmen then outscored the Greyhounds, 23-12, and on a Carey layup by Carey with 1:40 left made it a two-point game, 86-84.

Foti countered at the other end with a layin off his own offensive rebound before Carey hit a lane jumper to make two points once again, 88 86 with 1:06 left. Twomey then iced it with a runner in the paint with 14 seconds left. Carter made a jumper and Hounds' junior guard MITCH BAJEMA (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian) made a pair of free throws to account for the final with four seconds left.

The Greyhounds conclude their regular-season at Pace University TUESDAY at 7:30 p.m.

GREYHOUNDS NOTES: the win over Southern New Hampshire gave the Hounds their first-ever two-game sweep over the Penmen . . . the Hounds defeated S.N.H.U., 76-70, in Manchester, NH (2/2/08) . . . Diethorn now has 1,068 points, and Twomey 998 . . . the 28 points by Baldarelli ties Diethorn, who had 28 points vs. Massachusetts Lowell (/2/08), for the highest point total this season . . . Diethorn's three blocked shots give him 148 for his career in fourth place just ahead of Leeroy Sims (1989-94) (146) . . . the Greyhounds shot a blistering .773 from the floor in the first half making 17-of-22 shots---tying the second-best half performance in their history . . . the Hounds shot .773 vs. New Haven (11/24/86) (17-for-22) and their best half performance was .778 vs. Bryant (2/10/90) (28-for-36) . . .

TWENTY WIN SEASONS: the Greyhounds reached the magic 20-win plateau for the 14th time in their history. Previous 20-win seasons include:

1956-57 21-1 Coach Andy Laska NAIA Bid, beat Holy Cross

1970-71 25-2 Coach Joe O'Brien NCAA Reg'l. Champ

1971-72 21-6 Coach Joe O'Brien NCAA Reg'l. Champ

1972-73 25-3 Coach Joe O'Brien NCAA Reg'l. Champ

1973-74 22-7 Coach Joe O'Brien NCAA Reg'l. Champ

1974-75 22-8 Coach Joe O'Brien NCAA Reg'l. Champ

1982-83 21-11 Coach Joe O'Brien NE-10 playoff Champ; NCAA Reg'l. Third-Place

1987-88 20-12 Coach Jack Renkens NE-10 reg. season Champ; NCAA Reg'l. Bid

1989-90 22-10 Coach Jack Renkens NE-10 reg. season Champ; NCAA Reg'l. Bid

1990-91 24-8 Coach Jack Renkens NE-10 reg. season Champ; NCAA Reg'l. Bid

1997-98 23-10 Coach Serge DeBari NE-10 playoff Champ; NCAA Reg'l. Semifinal

2001-02 24-6 Coach Tom Ackerman NE-10 reg. season Champ; NCAA Reg'l. Final

2002-03 20-11 Coach Tom Ackerman NE-10 playoffs; NCAA Reg'l.

2007-08 20-8 Coach Serge DeBari NE-10 playoffs

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