Manchester, N.H. (January 25) -- Saint Anselm used a career-high 30-point performance by sophomore guard Thomas Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.) to propel the Hawks to an 81-78 victory over the University of Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks end their non-conference schedule at a perfect 5-0 and snap a six-game losing streak with the victory.

Each team held a lead of as many as six points in a closely contested first half. Bridgeport jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, capped by a dunk from Teairzez Stennis (St. Louis, Mo.) off a pass from Steve Martin (Philadelphia, Pa.). Saint Anselm answered with a 10-2 run to tie the game and took its first lead on a three-pointer by Giovanni Carenza (East Hanover, N.J.). The Hawks pushed the lead to 30-24 with 5:30 left in the period after a three-pointer from Greg Vetrano (Andover, Mass.), their largest lead of the half.

After the Purple Knights cut the advantage down to one, the Hawks got the lead back to 36-33 at the halftime break. Freshman Jack Keough (Owego, N.Y.) led the Hawks with 12 points, while Stennis led the Purple Knights with 12.

Opening the second half, the Hawks knocked down a trio of three-pointers in the opening minutes to push the lead to double digits for the first time at 49-39 with 17:04 on the clock. Bridgeport slowly chipped away and after a putback by Stennis with 13:50 left, the lead stood at 52-48 Hawks.

Saint Anselm kicked the lead back to a nine-point cushion before a 10-3 run, capped by a three-pointer from Dave Boykin (White Plains, N.Y.) had the visitors back to within one possession at 61-59 with 9:42 left. Stennis tied the game for the first time since late in the first half on a contested jumper to knot the game at 61-61. Bridgeport briefly took the lead with 6:17 left on a three-point play from Lee Frazier (Millville, N.J.). The lead was short lived though as Baudinet knocked down a pair of three-pointers on the next two possessions to regain control at 71-66.

The Hawks pushed the lead back to 10 points once more at 78-68 on another Baudinet three with 2:47 left. With the game seemingly in hand at 81-75 in the final seconds, a Boykin three-pointer pulled Bridgeport to within three points with 7.6 seconds left. After a missed Saint Anselm free throw with 6.1 seconds remaining, a UB three-pointer as time ran out went wide and the Hawks held on for the win.

Baudinet led the Hawks with his 30-point effort, including six three-pointers. Keough posted a career high for the second straight game with a 16-point showing, which featured 6-of-7 shooting from the field. Vetrano was also impressive with 15 points and a game-high eight assists.

Stennis led Bridgeport with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double as four Hawks finished in double figures. Martin also scored 21 points, along with a team-high five assists and a trio of three-pointers.

With the win, Saint Anselm is now 11-7 overall, while Bridgeport drops to 11-6 overall after having its three-game winning streak snapped. The Hawks are back in action on Wednesday night as the Hawks host the University of New Haven for a 7:30 p.m. start at Stoutenburgh Gym.