Box Score Oakdale, NY– (12/32011) – Chestnut Hill College led for nearly the entire contest, but Dowling College took advantage of a strong second half of shooting, 57.7% (15-of-26), and some late Griffin turnovers to survive for a 65-63 home win. Foul trouble hampered the performance of senior forward Dan Comas (Philadelphia, PA), who led the Griffins in the opening period. In the end it was junior guard Francis Ashe (Greenbelt, MD) who led the Griffins with 15 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard John Merchant III (Monticello, NY) led the Golden Lions and all scorers with 28 points.
 
Comas offered nine points and five rebounds to a five-point, 31-26, Chestnut Hill College (6-3) halftime lead, but at the onset of the second half it was Ashe who helped boost the Griffin advantage to ten, 55-45, just past the eight-minute mark (7:41). Dowling College (1-3) battled back behind a combination of Merchant and backcourt partner, junior Josh Malone (Deer Park, NY). The duo led the Golden Lions all the way to a one-point advantage, 63-62, with 1:19 remaining. Ashe then tied the contest at 63-63, after hitting the second of two free throws with 51 seconds to play (0:51). On the ensuing Golden Lion possession, Merchant delivered what would be the game-winning bucket, 65-63, corralling and scoring the rebound off an ill-advised three-point attempt. The Griffins had two chances to tie the affair in the final 12 seconds, but two turnovers sealed their fate.
 
Merchant was 5-of-12 (41.7%) from three-point territory to help the Golden Lions to the win and him to his game-high, 28 points. He also contributed five rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal to the Golden Lion effort. Malone recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while another guard, sophomore Leon Taylor (Rockville Centre, NY), supplied five assists and three steals.
 
Ashe matched his season-highs in points and rebounds; he was 5-of-10 (50.0%) from the floor and 5-of-7 (71.4%) at the free throw line while providing two steals on defense. Offensively, he was complimented by 11 points and six rebounds from Comas, ten points from junior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ), and another balanced performance from freshman guard Luke Dickson (Pittman, NJ); eight points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

The men's basketball team looks to get back on track with the start of their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule on Tuesday, December 6, when they will host Holy Family University in an 8:00 p.m. contest.