Boxscore

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior forward Preston Bell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game high and career high 22 points, and sophomore center John Mazzarella (Wallingford, Conn.) recorded his first career double-double with a career high 11 points and a team and career high 13 rebounds as the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team defeated Dominican College by a score of 89-70 on Friday night from Moore Fieldhouse in New Haven. The Owls improved to 2-7 overall while Dominican fell to 5-3.

Bell's career high led five Owls in double figures. Along with Mazzarella, senior forward Ktrice McNeill (Bronx, N.Y.) scored 20 points, junior guard Justin Gardenhire (Rosedale, N.Y.) scored 15 and senior forward Devon Sullivan (Jamaica, N.Y.) netted 10 points to go along with his eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Trevor Harris (Nanuet, N.Y.) dished out a team high and personal season high nine assists. The Chargers were led offensively by Shelton Gibbs and Brandon Brock, who each netted 11 in the loss.

The Owls took the lead for good on a Gardenhire layup with 6:51 remaining in the first half. Dominican never got closer than 11 points of Southern Connecticut in the second half, as the Owls built a 21 point lead. The action wrapped up with Bell sinking two free throws to round out his total at 22, as the Owls took the victory by a score of 89-70.

For the game, the Owls shot 36-for-66 (.545) from the floor, 2-for-7 (.286) from behind the arc and 15-for-24 (.625) from the free throw line.

Dominican shot 27-for-61 (.443) from the floor, 3-for-12 (.250) from three-point range and 13-for-19 (.684) from the charity stripe.

The Owls return to the court on Sunday, Dec. 30 as they host the Dowling College Golden Lions in a non-conference contest. The action tips off from Moore Fieldhouse in New Haven at 3 p.m.