Mike Baldarelli hits late three-pointer to lift Assumption men's basketball past Stonehill, 54-53

December 6, 2008

Assumption 54, Stonehill 53

EASTON, Mass. --- Sophomore forward MIKE BALDARELLI (Sutton, MA/Holy Name) hit a three-pointer with four seconds remaining to lift Assumption College past Stonehill College, 54-53, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action SATURDAY at Merkert Gymnasium.

Baldarelli led the Hounds with 13 points andseven rebounds, while senior guard/captain MITCH BAJEMA (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian) (12 points) and senior forward/captain PATRICK SHEA (Salem, MA/Salem) (12 points, 11 rebounds) played well in support roles.

Sophomore forward MIKE KERNAN (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) (13 points, 7 rebounds), junior guard RANDALL STALLWORTH (Toms River, NJ/Msgr. Donovan) (12 points), senior guard MATT HALL (Springfield, MA/Central) (11 points) and junior forward A.J. RUDOWITZ (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) (10 points, 8 rebounds) reached double-figures for the Skyhawks.

A three-pointer by postgraduate forward GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) with 18 seconds remaining in the first half made it a one-point game, 23-22, with Stonehill leading at the break.

The second half tarted with Kernan hitting a lane jumper and Bajema drilled a top-of-the-circle three-pointer to tie the game at 25-25---the first of six deadlocks in the period.

Rudowitz put the Skyhawks in front 50-49 with a pair of free throws with 2:30 left and then made two more with 34 seconds remaining to make it 52-49.

Twomey converted a driving layin with 27 seconds left before Skyhawks sophomore guard DAN HEPPERT (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) made the second of a two-shot situation with 25 seconds left to make it 53-51.

With 11 seconds left senior forward MAREK KULIG (Brick, NJ/Msgr. Donovain) missed a three pointer rebounded by sophomore center SAVOY FRAINE (Grenada Hills, CA/Grenada Hills) and fed to Baldarelli for the game-winner.

Assumption is now 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, while Stonehill is now 6-2 and 4-2.

The Greyhounds play at Massachusetts Lowell WEDNESDAY at 7:30 p.m. before breaking for first semester final exams.

Click here for ASSUMPTION-STONEHILL box score