Box Score New Castle, DE – (12/8/2011) – Powered in the paint, a mid first-half surge gave Chestnut Hill College their early lead at Wilmington University and in the second half, it was the unrelenting play of the Griffin backcourt that carried them to a 71-65 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) win. Four Griffins reached double figures, led by 18 points from junior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ). Head Coach Jesse Balcer and the Chestnut Hill College basketball program now sit one win shy of 100 victories.
 
Chestnut Hill College (8-3, 2-0) held a narrow advantage over Wilmington University (4-3, 0-2) coming out of halftime, 30-26, thanks to the play of DiRugeris and the margin quickly escalated off the energy of fellow guards, freshman Luke Dickson (Pittman, NJ) and senior Brandon Williams (Philadelphia, PA). The Griffins lead reached as many as 16, 61-45, in the closing period (3:25), but behind sophomore guard Herbert Dennis (Ridgely, MD) the Wildcats managed a late run to narrow the gap to six, 71-65, by the final buzzer. Dennis' 15 points led the Wildcats, who also received 12 points and six rebounds from Matthew King (Phoenixville, PA) and ten points from freshman forward Rashaun Rasheed (Atlantic City, NJ). Additional Wildcat contributions came from senior guard Corye Payton (Burlington, NJ), nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks; and one steal, and sophomore guard Jarvis Perry (Willingboro, NJ), eight points and six assists.
 
DiRugeris was 6-of-9 (66.7%) from the floor, with two baskets coming from beyond the arch (2-of-5, 40.0%), and a 4-of-5 (80.0%) effort from the foul line. He also provided five assists and two steals. Senior forward Dan Comas (Philadelphia, PA) offered his fourth double-double performance of the season to the win, 14 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman forward Alssene Saintilus (Irvington, NJ), 13 points, and Dickson, ten points, also scored in double digits. Williams finished with nine points and three assists in addition to leading the Griffin defensive effort with three steals.
 
The men's basketball team continues their CACC schedule at home on Saturday, December 10, with a 3:00 p.m. contest against Caldwell College.