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Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University Penmen

Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Squeezes Past Saint Michael's, 70-65

Box Score

BOX SCORE
RAPID REACTION WITH HEAD COACH STAN SPIROU

When and Where: February 6, 2016 – Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Fieldhouse)
Score:
Southern New Hampshire University 70, Saint Michael's College 65
Records: SNHU 15-8 (11-5 Northeast-10), Saint Michael's 5-16 (3-13 Northeast-10)

Senior Rodney Sanders (Elizabeth, N.J.) scored 20 points as the Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball team held on for a 70-65 victory against Saint Michael's College on Saturday at the SNHU Fieldhouse.

Sanders shot 7-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-6 at the line, to go along with six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Junior Chris Walters (Stamford, Conn.) tallied 14 points (3-9 FG, 8-12 FT), eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist. Senior BJ Cardarelli (Manchester, Conn.) was also in double figures with 11 points (3-9 FG, 2-5 3-FG, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

Morrell Gaskins paced the Purple Knights with 28 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.

After Saint Michael's jumped out to a 5-0 lead, five points from Sanders powered a 12-3 run that gave Southern New Hampshire a 12-8 lead just over seven minutes in. The visitors battled back with five straight points to grab a 13-12 edge at the 11:48 mark.

With the score tied at 16-all, four straight points from Walters triggered a 17-6 landslide that cracked open a 33-22 lead for the Penmen with 3:22 to go. Walters contributed nine points during the stretch. SNHU grabbed its largest lead of the afternoon at 37-24 with 1:18 on the clock and eventually led, 40-30, at the break.

With the margin still 10 nearly five minutes into the second half, five points from Gaskins and Greg Grippo helped craft a 13-3 run that knotted the game at 51-51 with 11:39 remaining. A 3-pointer from junior Jerome Harris (Hartford, Conn.) halted the run and sparked an 11-0 counter-stretch that put Southern New Hampshire in front, 62-51, with under eight minutes to play.

Saint Michael's made one final push with a 10-4 run that featured five points from Gaskins and pulled the Purple Knights to within three at 68-65 with 1:17 left. The Penmen collected two offensive rebounds on the ensuing possession to run the clock down and then Sanders drilled a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to seal it.

Harris netted eight points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3-FG) and grabbed four rebounds, while freshman Charlie Russo (Syracuse, N.Y.) added six points (2-3 FG, 2-3 3-FG).

Notes:
-SNHU now has a season-high five-game winning streak.
-Saint Michael's outshot Southern New Hampshire, 40.4 percent (23-57) to 39.3 percent (22-56), including 38.9 percent (7-18) to 29.6 percent (8-27) from long range.
-The Purple Knights won the glass (38-37) and the paint (30-22), with the Penmen featuring a better assist-to-turnover ratio (13/13 – 11/19).
-Southern New Hampshire improves to 10-2 at home, including a perfect 8-0 against Northeast-10 opponents.
-SNHU has won 10 of its last 12 against Northeast-10 foes.
-The Penmen are now 14-1 when holding their opponents to 70 or fewer points.

Up Next:
The Penmen are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 10 (7:30 p.m.) when they play host to Bentley University (16-5, 13-3 NE-10) in a game that will air live on NESNplus and NESN National and be broadcast on WGIR 610-AM. Tickets can be purchased HERE or at the box office on the day of the game.

For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on TwitterFacebookYoutube and Instagram. Sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams here.

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Players Mentioned

BJ Cardarelli

#22 BJ Cardarelli

F
6' 8"
Senior
Jerome Harris

#00 Jerome Harris

G
6' 1"
Junior
Charlie Russo

#4 Charlie Russo

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Rodney Sanders

#24 Rodney Sanders

G/F
6' 4"
Senior
Chris Walters

#3 Chris Walters

F
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

BJ Cardarelli

#22 BJ Cardarelli

6' 8"
Senior
F
Jerome Harris

#00 Jerome Harris

6' 1"
Junior
G
Charlie Russo

#4 Charlie Russo

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Rodney Sanders

#24 Rodney Sanders

6' 4"
Senior
G/F
Chris Walters

#3 Chris Walters

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
F