MANCHESTER, N.H. – CORY VEJRASKA (Alachua, FL/Bridgton Academy) converted a layup with 16 seconds to go and totaled 18 points as Southern New Hampshire University erased a 12-point second half deficit and posted an 84-80 Northeast-10 men's basketball victory over Assumption College here SATURDAY at the S.N.H.U. Fieldhouse. The Penmen improved to 8-11 overall and 4-11 in the NE-10 with the win, while the Greyhounds are now 10-11 and 7-8 in league play.
VEJRASKA knocked down four of his seven three-point attempts and also registered three steals and three assists. TORY STAPLETON (Rahway, NJ/Saint Thomas More Prep) led the Penmen with 23 points, going 9-11 from the floor and 5-5 at the free throw line. He now sits just one point away from 1,000 for his career. LUCAS CROTEAU (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) went 5-10 behind the arc and finished with a career-high 21 points, going 8-13 overall from the floor. COREY BOLAND (Union, NJ) added eight points.
MIKE BALDARELLI (Sutton, MA) led all scorers with 30 points for Assumption. BALDARELLI made his first 11 shots from the field, including his first six three-point attempts. CORY SCHMIDT (Center Valley, PA) was 6-11 overall and totaled 17 points, while TOBIN HAASE (Southold, NY) added 15 points.
S.N.H.U., which trailed 74-62 with 6:21 to play, used a 13-2 run to take its first lead since early in the second half, 82-80, on a CROTEAU three with 1:31 to play. The Greyhounds would tie the game on their next possession when SCHMIDT converted a swirling layup in the lane with 46 seconds on the clock. The Penmen would take the lead for good on their next possession when STAPLETON found a cutting VEJRASKA for a layup with 22 seconds to go.
Having only fouled Assumption five times in the second half, the Penmen gave a foul with 8.9 seconds to play. Coming out of a timeout, the Greyhounds would inbound from midcourt, but BOBBY HARRIS (Berlin, NJ) stepped on the sideline as he caught the ball. The guests would be forced to foul and fouled VEJRASKA with just over six seconds left. VEJRASKA would make both ends of the one-and-one, and a final three attempt by BALDARELLI was off the mark.
Trailing 43-39 at halftime, Assumption opened the second half on a 17-2 run and a layup by RYAN ROZNANSKI (Montreal, PQ) with 16:20 left gave it a 56-45 lead. The Greyhounds made their first seven field goal attempts of the frame. Assumption took a 72-60 lead with 8:12 to play on a tip-in by HARRIS.
The game got off to a torrid scoring pace as Southern New Hampshire opened up a 26-19 lead nine minutes into the game following a steal and layup by NIKOLA CANIC (Belgrade, Serbia/Sports HS). Assumption used a 9-2 run to tie the game 28-28 at the 7:31 mark on a pair of free throws by SCHMIDT, and SCHMIDT would give the guests their only lead of the first half, 37-36, with just over four minutes to go on his three. The Penmen took a 43-39 lead into the locker room.
Assumption shot 62.1% in the second half and 55.6% for the game and outrebounded the Penmen 35-29, but 23 Greyhound turnovers led to a 28-21 Penmen advantage in points off turnovers. S.N.H.U. knocked down a season-high 11 three-pointers, going 11-29 behind the arc, and was 13-20 at the charity stripe while the Greyhounds were 11-15. The Penmen shot 50% overall and 53.8% behind the arc in the second half and 48.4% overall for the contest.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action WEDNESDAY when it hosts No. 25 Saint Anselm College in a 7:30 contest. Assumption also returns to action WEDNESDAY, entertaining Saint Rose in a 7:30 tilt.
(Editor's Note: This release is dedicated to Steve "Merc" Morris, longtime Assumption College Sports Information Director, who passed away Monday night at the age of 60. Steve was a true professional, a mentor, and a friend who will be missed by everyone who knew him. The release is written in his signature style Please take a moment to read Jen Toland's piece on Steve in the Worcester Telegram, here)
