Hightower’s Defensive Prowess Nets CACC Honor Roll Mention New Haven, Conn. - (11/24/2014) – For his remarkable defensive efforts against a trio of non-conference foes, Chestnut Hill College’s
Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.) was recognized on the second Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Men’s Basketball Weekly Report of the season. The Griffins junior swingman and captain was a force on the defensive end, totaling a team-high 10 blocks and three steals to go along with 3.3 points-per-game (PPG) and a team-best 6.3 rebounds-per-game (RPG) in losses to The Lincoln University, LIU Post, and Molloy College.
Turnovers plagued Chestnut Hill College (0-3) all game long on Sunday, November 23, nullifying the Griffins superior shooting (43.1%-37.9%) and rebounding (35-33) performances and allowing Molloy College (4-1) to upend a 39-34 halftime spread behind a quartet of scorers on the last day of the LIU Post Thanksgiving Classic. Yet the Griffins led as late as 9:21, 52-51, in the second half on the continued reinforcement efforts of senior guard
Christian Walck (Lancaster, Pa.) and sophomore guard
Billy Cassidy (Primos, Pa.), who sunk his fourth three-pointer (4-of-7, .571) of the affair to give the Griffins their final advantage. Unfortunately, Matt McLeod (Greenlawn, N.Y.) ignited the Lions seminal charge, providing the hustle and the point production in a winning 20-14 run that included seven points, two rebounds, a block, and two steals from the senior guard. Hightower was a significant reserve for the Griffins, contributing seven points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks.
On Saturday, November 22, Chestnut Hill College came to the Long Island (LIU) Post University Thanksgiving Classic looking to rebound from a tight, season-opening loss at The Lincoln University, but after leading the hosting Pioneers until the final 21 seconds, the Griffins gave way in a dramatic 56-55 final. Hightower once again captained the defensive effort with four blocks and two steals, and he posted four blocks in Chestnut Hill College’s season-opening, 68-66 setback at The Lincoln University on Tuesday, November 18. Through the first three games of the season, Hightower leads the CACC with 3.3 blocks-per-game (BPG).
The men’s basketball team continues its 2014-2015 non-conference schedule on Tuesday, November 25, when the Griffins travel to Millersville University for a 7:00 p.m. contest.
