BOX
SCORE
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Josh
Morgan-Green (Upper Marlboro, Md.) poured in a career-high
20 points to lead Southern New Hampshire University to a 78-73 win
over Saint Leo University at the SNHU Fieldhouse Sunday
afternoon. The Penmen snapped a two-game slide to even their
record at 4-4, while the Lions are now 5-6 on the season.
Morgan-Green totaled 13 of his
points in the first half and finished 7-12 from the floor while
knocking down three three-pointers. Freshman Hanell
Velez (Woburn, Mass.) added a career-best 14 points, going
5-7 from the floor, while grabbing seven rebounds.
Cory Vejraska (Alachua, Fla.) added a season-best
14 points and nine rebounds, while Greg DeSantis
(Trumbull, Conn.) registered 11 points and four assists.
Stephen Wood (South Jamaica Queens, N.Y.) added
eight points, five boards and three steals.
Jordan Prais led all scorers with
31 points and 11 rebounds, while Jeremy Jackson totaled 16 points.
SNHU held a 62-51 lead with just
over eight minutes to play following a basket by Wood, but the
Lions would score seven unanswered points to make it 62-58 with
7:07 left when Brandon Powell made 1-of-2 at the line. SNHU
responded with a 5-0 spurt and a Tory Stapleton
(Rahway, N.J.) layup with 5:27 left made it 67-58.
Saint Leo cut the lead to five with
4:32 on the clock on a Jackson three, but the Penmen reclaimed a
nine-point advantage with 3:03 left when Vejraska tipped home an
offensive rebound. Saint Leo would cut the lead to four twice
in the final minute but would get no closer.
Southern New Hampshire led 36-33 at
halftime, and used a 9-0 run capped by a layup by DeSantis with 14
minutes to play that made it 55-43. The guests would halve
the lead with a 6-0 spurt capped by a Daniel Oliver layup with
10:26 left that made it 55-49.
In a first half that saw eight lead
changes, the Penmen took the lead for good 8:08 before halftime on
a three by Morgan-Green. Southern New Hampshire used a 13-3
run to take its largest lead of the game, 36-23, with 3:03 left in
the frame on a three by Lucas Croteau (Rochester,
N.H.). Saint Leo would close the half with a 10-0 run and a
Jackson dunk at the end of the half made it a three-point Penmen
lead, 36-33.
Saint Leo shot 53.7% for the game,
but knocked down just two of its 10 three-point attempts and was
13-21 at the free throw line. SNHU was 17-27 at the line, but
knocked down seven three-pointers and outrebounded the Lions
35-31. The Penmen had a 10-4 offensive rebounding advantage
that led to a 13-5 edge in second chance points.
Southern New Hampshire is idle
until Saturday, when it entertains Mercy College in a 2:00 game at
the SNHU Fieldhouse.
