Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – Junior Desmond Williams (Torrington, Conn.) led all scorers with a career-high 23 points and senior Tylon Smith (Manchester, Conn.) added a season-high 22 points as the nationally ranked No. 2 Southern Connecticut State men's basketball team rolled past Saint Rose 99-70 on Wednesday night. Sophomore Michael Mallory (Waterbury, Conn.) finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, and senior Luke Houston and junior Deshawn Murphy (Hamden, Conn.) each scored 11 points. With the win, the Owls improve to 7-0 (3-0 NE-10), while the Golden Knights fall to 4-4, (2-2 NE-10). The Owls' seven wins to start the season is tied for the second most wins to start a season in program history.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Williams and Houston, plus five points from Murphy helped the Owls build up a quick 8-0 lead.

At the 12:45 mark, Smith scored his first points of the night with a three-pointer to start a 12-0 Owls' run that upped their lead to 28-11. A layup by Houston following a Murphy steal in the half's final seconds allowed the Owls to carry their largest lead of the half (24 points) into the locker room at 52-28.

Smith led all scorers in the first half with 14 points and was 4-for-4 from three point range in the opening half, sinking a trio of his three-pointers during the run. Williams did not miss a shot in the half, registering 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arch.

The Owls kept up the momentum in the second half, going on a 13-2 run to up the lead to as many as 37 points by the 10:36 mark. A pair of layups from sophomore Lucas Van Nes (Hamden, Conn.) and two free throws by sophomore Michael Bozzuto (Wolcott, Conn.) finished off the Owls' scoring over the final 3:22. Sophomore Austin Carter (Bloomfield, Conn.) tallied five points off the bench. Junior Stefon Williams (Jamaica, N.Y.) registered four second half points, and junior Jack McCarthy (Wallingford, Conn.) added two points.

Desmond Williams finished the game shooting 80 percent (8-for-10) from the floor, including 83 percent (5-for-6) from three point range. Smith was 7-for-9 (78 percent) shooting in the game, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arch.

SCSU returns home on Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. showdown with American International. Live video and live stats will be available.