Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS HOLD OFF GREEN MOUNTAIN, 103-89 Robertson named MVP of  Clarion Doc Jacobs Thanksgiving Classic FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION November 22, 2003                                                                    Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Six players scored in double figures for Saint Michael’s College as the Purple Knights defeated Green Mountain College, 103-89, in men’s basketball action on Saturday in the final game of the Clarion Doc Jacobs Thanksgiving Classic at the Ross Sports Center. The first game of the day saw the College of Saint Rose best Felician College, 95-75. Sophomore BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) tallied 18 points and eight rebounds for the victors. Coupled with yesterday’s 25-point performance, Robertson was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The Purple Knights slowly pulled away from the Eagles in the first half, opening its biggest lead of the period at 40-25 with 6:21 remaining in the stanza. Saint Michael’s took advantage of Green Mountain foul trouble, as freshman Chris Crevelone (Tucson, Ariz.) and junior Jon Simons (Poultney, Vt.) recorded four and three fouls, respectively, in the opening 20 minutes. Saint Michael’s appeared to put the game away to start the second half, beginning the frame with a 26-12 run to take its biggest lead at 79-52 with 12 minutes remaining. However, despite their foul problems and an eight-man roster, the Eagles scored 32 of the next 45 points to cut the deficit to 92-84 with 2:30 left in regulation. Five free throws down the stretch helped the Purple Knights seal the victory. Free throws dominated the foul-plagued contest, as both teams combined for 59 fouls and 91 free throw attempts. Three players fouled out of the game for the Eagles, who ended the contest with just five eligible players. Freshman Brendan Mullins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) paced Saint Michael’s with 19 points and four steals. Senior Delbert Randall (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) added 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, junior Eric Swiezynski (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) notched 13 points, senior Ben Smith (Southport Island, Maine/Boothbay Region) chipped in 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and freshman Chris Cayole (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) came off the bench to contribute 11 points. For Green Mountain, junior John Saporita (Norwich, Conn.) tallied a tournament-high 27 points, connecting on 13-of-14 free throws. Freshman Marquis Hyslop (New Haven, Conn.) added 19 points and five assists, while Simons and freshman Nick Buck (Canastota, N.Y.) scored 13 apiece in the loss.  Saint Michael’s returns to action on Tuesday, as the Purple Knights open the Northeast-10 Conference season at Southern Connecticut State University at 7:30 p.m. Saint Michael’s returns home to face American International College on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002