Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior
Luke Houston netted career point number 1,000 on Tuesday night, as the No. 9/20 Southern Connecticut State men's basketball team powered its way past Saint Anselm, 120-100. The Owls shot a season-high 65.3 percent (47-for-74) from the field, including 67.9 percent (19-for-28) from three-point range. Four Owls registered 20+ points, with senior
Tylon Smith (Manchester, Conn.) leading the way with a game-high 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arch. Sophomore
Michael Mallory (Waterbury, Conn.) added in 27 points, was a perfect 7-for-7 from three-point range, and shot 10-for-14 overall from the field. Houston and junior
Desmond Williams (Torrington, Conn.) each tallied 22 points, with Williams collecting two steals and two blocks. Houston and Smith led the squad with six assists apiece, as the Owls also tied a season-high with 24 total assists. Junior
Deshawn Murphy (Hamden, Conn.) also chipped 12 points in the win.
The Owls fell behind by as many as 11 in the early going, as the Hawks hot start spotted them a 16-5 lead just 4:30 into the game. The Owls then caught fire from the field, going on a 16-3 run over the next three minutes to take a 21-19 lead. The Hawks retook the lead briefly before Southern took over the lead for good at 28-26 on a Smith three-pointer at the 9:23 mark.
Three consecutive threes by Mallory in as many possessions, and 11 consecutive points from him overall, upped the lead to 13 points, before Smith ran off five straight points of his own, giving the Owls a 44-30 lead.
With 2:47 to go before halftime, Houston took a pass from Williams on the right wing and nailed a three-pointer, giving him an even 1,000 points for his career. He is the 27th player in program history to achieve the milestone.
Southern carried a 62-36 advantage into the locker room, after shooting 58.5 percent (24-for-41) from the field, and an astounding 73.3 percent (11-for-15) from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes.
The second half saw both clubs put up big numbers, as the Hawks outscored the Owls 64-58. Southern shot a sizzling 69.7 percent (23-for-33) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-for-13) from three-point range, while the Hawks shot 59 percent (23-for-39) from the floor and 40 percent (6-for 15) from long range. Chris Santo led Saint Anselm with 24 points, Mike McCahey totaled 22 points and Roy Mabrey added 19 to lead the Hawks.
The Owls return to the court on Saturday afternoon as they look to avenge an early season loss at Saint Michael's. Tip off from Colchester, Vermont is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
