BOX SCORE

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Tory Stapleton (Rahway, NJ) led five Southern New Hampshire University players in double figures with 18 points as the Penmen defeated Houghton College 76-55 in non-conference men's basketball Saturday at the SNHU Fieldhouse.  The game marked the season opener for the Penmen, while the Highlanders are 1-1 on the season.

Stapleton shot 9-17 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds.  Stephen Wood (South Jamaica Queens, NY), a transfer from Duquesne, totaled 14 points and six rebounds, while freshman Josh Morgan-Green (Upper Marlboro, MD) added 11 points.  Gerald Carter (Harlem, NY) and Troy Bowen (Nashua, NH) finished with 10 points apiece.

Yannick Anzuluni finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead Houghton, while Kenan Etale added 13 points and Devin Paige 10.

SNHU never trailed and opened up a 24-10 lead midway through the first half on a three-pointer by Morgan-Green that capped a 14-2 run.  An 11-0 spurt capped by a Stapleton layup 3:11 before halftime gave the Penmen their largest lead of the first half, 39-16.  The hosts held a 41-22 lead at the break.  Southern New Hampshire shot 54.5% (18-33) in the first half while limiting the Highlanders to just 21.2% shooting (7-33).

Southern New Hampshire was never seriously challenged over the final 20 minutes and took its largest lead of the game, 64-39, with 8:56 left on a Bowen three-pointer.  Houghton got no closer than 16 points in the second half.

The Penmen finished the game 30-62 (48.4%) from the field while limiting the guests to 28.6% (18-63) shooting.  SNHU was 6-12 behind the arc while the Highlanders were just 4-21 from long range.  Both teams grabbed 42 rebounds.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action next Saturday when it hosts defending Northeast-10 champion Bentley University in a 3:30 contest at the SNHU Fieldhouse.