Awl and Toplyn Awarded CACC Weekly Honor Roll Recognition
New Haven, Conn. - (2/19/2018) – Another week of tight league play placed two Griffins on this week’s Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Men’s Basketball Honor Roll. Juniors, guard Liban Awl (Manassas, Va.) and forward Tony Toplyn Jr. (Sicklerville, N.J.) garnered the recognition as Chestnut Hill College’s top two scorers in a 1-1 week versus Wilmington University (W, 79-77 on 2/13) and Felician University (L, 75-80, 2OT on 2/17). Awl averaged 24.5 points-per-game (PPG) and 6.0 rebound-per-game (RPG), while totaling five assists and six steals. Meanwhile, Toplyn averaged 17.5 PPG and 8.0 RPG in addition to three assists, seven blocks, and a steal.
Despite an off shooting night (4-of-11, .364), senior guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) tied the contest at 77-77 and provided Awl the opportunity to score the game-winning free throws (79-77, 0:34) against Wilmington University. Behind Awl and senior center Chris Evans (Norristown, Pa.), Chestnut Hill College carried a 41-36 edge at intermission. Following the break, Isaac and Toplyn’s grit took over; the latter offered a career night with 18 points, nine rebounds, an assist, and his third straight game with four blocks. In support of Toplyn’s tireless play, Awl scored 20 of the Griffins’ 26 bench points. He was 7-of-12 (.583) from the field, 4-of-6 (.667) from three, and 2-of-4 (.500) at the free throw line, while recording three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
No stranger to dramatic conclusions, Chestnut Hill College battled Felician University through two overtime periods in Saturday afternoon’s CACC contest. Awl hit one of his six (6-of-11, .545) three point baskets to force the second overtime frame, but his career-high 29 points came in defeat as the Golden Falcons won the affair by a 80-75 measure. Awl finished 9-of-16 (.563) from the field, grabbed nine rebounds, supplied two assists, and made three steals. He got most of his help from Toplyn, who totaled 17 points on 8-of-15 (.533) shooting, while recording seven rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and a steal.
The Chestnut Hill College men’s basketball team continues their CACC schedule on Wednesday, February 21, with an 8:00 p.m. contest at Holy Family University.