VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Rodney Sanders (Linden, N.J.) finished with a career-high 25 points as Southern New Hampshire University knocked off No. 21 Saint Anselm College 82-69 in Northeast-10 men's basketball Wednesday night at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.  The Penmen, who picked up their first win on the Hilltop since the 2006-07 season, improve to 2-0 and 1-0 in NE-10 play, while the Hawks, the preseason favorite in the NE-10 Northeast Division, are now 2-1 and 0-1 in the league.

Sanders knocked down all three of his three-point attempts and finished 7-10 from the floor and 8-11 at the charity stripe while also finishing with five rebounds and four assists.  Elijah Bonsignore (Felton, Del.) posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while also blocking five shots, while BJ Cardarelli (Manchester, Conn.) was 3-4 behind the arc and added 13 points.  Adrian Oliveira (Pawtucket, R.I.) chipped in with nine points and three assists.

Chris Santo totaled 20 points and five rebounds to lead Saint Anselm, while Mike McCahey notched 16 points and 10 boards.  Kyle Green added 11 points off the bench.

Saint Anselm held a 10-5 lead six minutes into the game, but a 13-5 spurt capped by an Aleksandar Dobrovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) three with 9:24 remaining in the first half put the Penmen on top 18-15.  With the game tied 20-20, Southern New Hampshire embarked on an 11-2 run capped by a Sanders three with 4:35 left to build a 31-22 cushion.  The guests led by as many as 10 and took a 37-30 lead into intermission.

The Hawks pulled within five early in the second half and trailed 52-47 when a 9-2 SNHU run capped by a Bonsignore tip-in made it 61-49 with 10:55 left.  The hosts pulled within four three times in the ensuing seven minutes, the last time a pair of McCahey free throws with 4:01 left making it 70-66.  Southern New Hampshire closed the game on a 12-3 run, holding the Hawks to a field goal and a free throw.

Southern New Hampshire knocked down eight of its 17 three-point attempts on the evening and shot 47.6% from the floor, while limiting the Hawks to 41.4% shooting, including an uncharacteristic 5-24 effort beyond the arc.  Saint Anselm was 16-23 at the free throw line while the Penmen were 14-20, and the guests held a 37-34 rebounding advantage.  SNHU also forced 18 Hawk turnovers, leading to a 16-8 edge in points off giveaways.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday afternoon when it travels to Saint Michael's College for a 3:30 Northeast-10 contest.

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