Philadelphia, PA – (1/22/2011) – With 57 seconds remaining in the opening half, Chestnut Hill College held a 39-18 advantage over Post University, but Eagles junior guard Geraldo Fernandez (Monticello, NY) scored five points before the break as a foreshadowing of things to come. Midway through the second half the Griffins lead had vanished as the rallying Eagles persevered for a 64-59 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victory.
In a true tale of two halves, Post University's (8-8, 6-2) rallying effort was enough to catch the Griffins. Chestnut Hill College (5-10, 2-5) shot 50.0% (15-of-30) from the floor in the opening period while the Eagles struggled at a 27.0% (10-of-37) shooting clip; leaving the Griffins to a 39-23 advantage. In the second half, the Eagles shot 51.9% (14-of-27) while the Griffins were mired behind a 21.2% (7-of-33) shooting performance; leaving the Eagles to a five-point, comeback win. Fernandez led the Eagles with 19 points. He also recorded seven rebounds, a block, and two steals. Senior guard Garvin McAlister (Norwich, CT) supplied 11 points and five assists at the point, while junior forward Elon Howard (Brooklyn, NY) contributed a double-double effort in the paint with ten points and ten rebounds.
Junior center Dan Comas (Philadelphia, PA) and sophomore guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) led the Griffins to their first half advantage. Both finished in double figures along with freshman forward Khadim Ndiaye (Long Beach, NY). Comas led the Griffins with his fifth double-double of the season; 15 points and ten rebounds while DiRugeris and Ndiaye each finished with ten points. In the backcourt, junior Brandon Williams (Philadelphia, PA) and sophomore Francis Ashe (Greenbelt, MD) each recorded four assists and three steals.
The men's basketball team continues their CACC schedule with an 8:00 p.m. home contest against Wilmington University on Tuesday, January 25.
