MANCHESTER, N.H. – Mike Stys (Hooksett, N.H.) had 15 points to lead a balanced Southern New Hampshire University attack as the Penmen downed Wilmington (Del.) University 70-55 in non-conference men's basketball action Friday night at the SNHU Fieldhouse.  The game marked the season opener for both schools.

Stys, a junior making his Penmen debut, knocked down a pair of three pointers and led three players in double figures.  B.J. Cardarelli (Manchester, Conn.) finished with 14 points and five rebounds, while Elijah Bonsignore (Felton, Del.) recorded 11 points on 5-7 shooting and blocked six shots.  Rodney Sanders (Linden, N.J.) added nine points.

Brandon Fox paced Wilmington with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Kojic Dusan added 11 points.

Wilmington jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but Southern New Hampshire used a 13-2 run to take a 15-10 lead 5:31 into the contest following a conventional three-point play by Sanders.  Leading 29-21 with just over six minutes left in the first half, the Penmen went on a 9-1 spurt and Stys' conventional three-point play with 3:14 left made it a 38-22 game.  A three-pointer by Max Taylor (Shokan, N.Y.) seven seconds before halftime gave SNHU a 46-29 halftime advantage.

Southern New Hampshire led by 21 points three times in the second half, but Wilmington whittled the lead down to 14, 56-42, with 10:36 remaining, however, that would be as close as the Wildcats would get the rest of the way.

The hosts shot 57.6% in the first half and 45.2% for the contest while limiting Wilmington to 33.3% shooting in the first 20 minutes and 39.6% for the game.  The Penmen generated a 19-7 advantage in points off turnovers and outrebounded the Wildcats 39-35.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday night when it hosts LIU-Post in a 7:30 contest at the SNHU Fieldhouse.