BOX SCORE
RAPID REACTION WITH HEAD COACH STAN SPIROU

When and Where: December 2, 2015 – Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Fieldhouse)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 91, Assumption 56
Records: SNHU 4-3 (1-2 Northeast-10), Assumption 4-3 (1-3 Northeast-10)

Senior Rodney Sanders (Elizabeth, N.J.) and junior Chris Walters (Stamford, Conn.) each registered 20 points to lead six players in double figures as the Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball team took care of Assumption College, 91-56, Wednesday evening at the SNHU Fieldhouse. 

Sanders was an efficient 7-for-9 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep, and 3-for-3 from the line to go along with three rebounds and two steals in just 24 minutes of action. Walters was 6 of 14 from the floor, including 1 of 4 from 3-point land, and 7 of 7 at the stripe, while adding a career-best 12 boards, two blocks and two steals for his fourth double-double in the last five contests.

Junior Devin Gilligan (Amherst, N.H.) finished just shy of the double-double as he posted 14 points (3-6 FG, 8-9 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Remo Simankevicius (Melbourne, Australia) recorded a career-high 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-3 3-FG) and collected four rebounds. Freshman Daquaise Andrews (Queens, N.Y.) tallied 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 FT), five boards, two assists, two steals and a block, while classmate Charlie Russo (Syracuse, N.Y.) also netted 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3-FG).

Tre Owens led Assumption with 16 points. 

Southern New Hampshire rocketed out to a 15-0 lead to begin the contest, holding Assumption scoreless over the opening 4:35 while Gilligan contributed six points and Sanders kicked in five to craft the run. A 10-2 surge later in the half that was bookended by treys from Simankevicius and Russo stretched the lead to 29-9 at the 10:24 mark of the frame. 

Assumption clawed to within 15, but the Penmen answered by closing the half on an 11-2 surge that featured five points from Gilligan and sent SNHU to the break with a 49-25 advantage.

SNHU completely broke the game open to begin the second half as it opened the stanza on a 20-7 swing – with nine points from Sanders, six from Walters and five from Andrews – that ballooned the lead to 69-32 with 13:27 remaining. A 6-0 spurt later in the frame, which was powered by four points from Andrews, gave the Penmen their largest lead of the night at 78-39 with 8:25 to play. 

Five straight points from Owens would bring Assumption as close as it would get at 34 and the Penmen would cruise the rest of the way.

Senior Kostas Mantalvanos (Athens, Greece), despite not scoring a point, chipped in four rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. 

Notes:
-The 35-point victory is SNHU's largest against a Division II opponent since it defeated Felician College, 96-55, back on Dec. 19, 2004. It is also the largest margin of victory for the Penmen against a fellow NE-10 foe since joining the league in 2000.
-Southern New Hampshire shot a season-best 53.4 percent (31-58) from the field, including 43.8 percent (7-16) from beyond the arc, while Assumption hit at just a 36.8 percent (21-57) clip from the floor and 22.7 percent (5-22) from deep.
-SNHU cleaned up at the line as it shot a sizzling 91.7 percent (22-24), compared to just 64.3 percent (9-14) for the Greyhounds. It is the highest single-game free throw mark for the Penmen since they shot 94.1 percent (16-17) against Molloy College on Nov. 12, 2011.-Southern New Hampshire doubled up Assumption on the glass, 44-22, including 13-8 on the offensive end for a 21-6 landslide in second-chance points. The Penmen also held a 44-32 advantage in the paint.
-SNHU only turned the ball over one fewer time (15) than Assumption (16) but capitalized on the Greyhound mistakes to the tune of a 28-9 thumping in points off turnovers. 

Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Saturday, Dec. 5 (3:30 p.m.) when they travel to take on first-place Bentley University. The next home game for the Penmen is Wednesday, Dec. 9 (7:30 p.m.) when they play host to Merrimack College on Ugly Sweater Night at the Fieldhouse. Tickets can be purchased HERE or at the box office on the day of the game.

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