Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS LOSE FIFTH STRAIGHT, FALL TO PENMEN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION December 9, 2003                                                                         Contact: Seth Cole Courtesy: Tom McDermott, SNHU Sports Information                       (802) 654-2537 MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Miguel Gonzalez (Jamaica, N.Y.) tied his career-high with 19 points and senior Athanasios Souflias (Larissa, Greece) added 12 points and eight rebounds to lead Southern New Hampshire University to a 79-58 victory over Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action tonight at the SNHU Fieldhouse.  SNHU remained unbeaten on the year and improved to 4-0 overall and in the league.  The Purple Knights suffered their fifth-straight loss and dropped to 2-5 overall and 0-5 in the league. SNHU, which entered the game leading the NE-10 in scoring defense, has now limited three of its first four opponents to less than 60 points and is allowing just 60.5 points per game. The Penmen led 40-26 at the break and maintain a double-digit lead the entire second half.  The hosts held a 60-48 lead midway through the second half when they put together a decisive 12-2 run.  A layup by Gonzalez with 4:05 to play capped the run and gave SNHU a 72-50 lead. The teams traded baskets early in the game and SNHU held an 11-10 lead when it put together a 13-2 run. A layup by senior Namdi Williams (Newark, N.J.) with 8:31 left in the half capped the run and gave the Penmen a 24-12 lead.  SMC quickly cut the lead in half with six unanswered points, but SNHU outscored SMC 14-8 over the final six minutes of the half and took a 14-point lead into the break.  SNHU forced the Purple Knights into 21 first-half turnovers (26 overall) and the Penmen recorded 12 steals in the game. Senior guard Mark Yeaton (Concord, N.H.) had two crowd-pleasing dunks in the game for SNHU and totaled 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, while junior J.J. Harvey (Albany, N.Y.) added a season-high 11 points off the bench.  Sophomore John Baiano (Staten Island, N.Y.) totaled seven points, seven assists and four steals.  Senior Delbert Randall (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) totaled 12 points and five boards for St. Michael's, while junior Eric Swiezynski (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench. SNHU plays Saint Anselm College in the New Hampshire Hoops Classic at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. Sunday (12/14) at 3:30 p.m. Saint Michael's travels to the University of Vermont for an exhibition game Thursday (12/11) and hosts The College of Saint Rose in a league tilt Saturday (12/13). ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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