Philadelphia, PA – (12/7/2010) – Chestnut Hill College clawed, tooth-and-nail, to hold a 55-53 edge over Philadelphia University midway through the second half. However, the advantage lasted for less than a minute as the Rams launched an 18-5 run to lead by eight with just over five minutes remaining. Determined, the Griffins gave one last effort to catch the Rams, but the effort would fall short as Philadelphia University survived for a 74-71 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) win.
A buzzer-beating, half-court shot from senior guard Brandon Williams (Philadelphia, PA) narrowed the halftime gap to three, 39-36, and energized Chestnut Hill College (2-5, 0-1) for the second half. Following the break, Philadelphia University (5-3, 2-0) briefly extended their advantage to seven, 43-36, before two, unanswered three-point baskets from sophomore guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) trimmed the Ram lead back to one, 43-42, with 17:13 still to play. Over the next seven minutes the lead changed hands three times leaving the Griffins up 55-53, but the succeeding 18-5 Ram run placed the home team behind a 71-60 deficit heading to the final five minutes (5:16). Down the stretch, clutch baskets from DiRugeris, junior guard Uros Kovacevic (Kotor, Montenegro), and freshman forward Khadim Ndiaye (Long Beach, NY) brought the Griffins back within two, 73-71, but following a Ram free throw a last-chance Williams three-point attempt resulted in a jump ball as time expired, 74-71.
Sophomore guard Jim Connolly (Harleysville, PA) carried the Rams through the opening half hitting 5-of-5 (100.0%) from long range en route to a 17-point half. He finished with 24 points; shooting 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the field, including 6-of-8 (75.0%) from three-point territory. In support, junior forward Corey Francisco (Woodbridge, NJ) added 21 points and senior forward Ola Sosona (Morris Plains, NJ) scored 14 points.
Williams was the driving force for the Griffins, totaling 17 points, seven assists, and two blocks. He was joined in double figures by three teammates. Ndiaye led the Griffins in scoring for the second straight contest with 18 points; he also tied for the team lead in rebounds with five. Kovacevic finished with 15 points while DiRugeris totaled ten points.
The men's basketball breaks from their CACC schedule to visit West Chester University for a 7:00 p.m. contest on Thursday, December 9.
