Box Score Slippery Rock, PA – (12/19/2011) – Junior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) generated the offense needed for Chestnut Hill College to keep pace with Slippery Rock University in this afternoon's contest, but it was nine straight points from senior forward Dan Comas (Philadelphia, PA) that powered the Griffins in the final minutes of a 66-61 win over the Rock. Comas led all scorers with 18 points, while DiRugeris totaled 17 points in his 12^th double figure performance of the season.
 
DiRugeris nailed a three-point basket and two free throws coming out of halftime, quickly trimming Slippery Rock University's (5-4) six-point lead, 32-26, to a narrow 32-31 advantage before the 19-minute mark of the second half. Play remained tight over the next nine minutes, but a brief Rock run concluded on a jumper from senior guard Devin Taylor (New Castle, PA) and landed the home team an eight-point advantage, 50-42, midway through the second half (10:41). Chestnut Hill College (10-4) slowly chipped away at the Rock lead until switching focus and forging ahead behind Comas' post play. Down five, 57-52, with 4:31 remaining, Comas went to work. He hit a jumper, scored two layups, a free throw, and finished with another jumper to bring the Griffins to a 61-59 lead with 1:19 remaining. From there, DiRugeris and freshman forward Alssene Saintilus (Irvington, NJ) secured the contest with the necessary free throws.
 
Taylor led the Rock with a double-double, 11 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Jon Valeriano (Pittsburgh, PA) recorded 11 points as well, but most of his came from long range (3-of-6, 50.0%). Junior guard Aubin Reeves (Waldorf, MD) provided ten points.
 
Comas was 8-of-11 (72.7%) from the floor and 2-of-5 (40.0%) from the free throw line to total his 18 points. He also led the Griffins on the glass with seven rebounds while recording three assists. DiRugeris made three steals in addition to his 17 points; he was 4-of-7 (57.1%) from the field, 3-of-4 (75.0%) from three-point territory, and 6-of-6 (100.0%0 from the free throw line. Saintilus reached double figures for the fourth time in his freshman campaign with 12 points; he also helped Comas on the glass with six rebounds, and led the Griffin defense with a block and two steals. The bench kept the Griffins alive in the first half; junior guard Francis Ashe (Greenbelt, MD) offered eight points and two steals, while freshman center Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, PA) recorded seven points.

The men's basketball team returns to action on Friday, December 30, with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against Bloomsburg University.