Philadelphia, PA – (2/9/2011) – This evening's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest went down to the wire with Chestnut Hill College enduring Goldey-Beacom College to an 80-79 triumph. Clutch baskets from junior guard Uros Kovacevic (Kotor, Montenegro) carried the Griffins to victory, while the a combination of junior center Dan Comas (Philadelphia, PA) and sophomore guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) powered the offense.
In a highly competitive affair, Goldey-Beacom College (14-9, 9-4) owned a narrow 75-74 advantage with less than four minutes remaining (3:22). It was then that Kovacevic took the contest in his hands. He put Chestnut Hill College (9-13, 6-7) up 76-75 with a drive to the bucket, answered a Lightning three-pointer with another successful assault, 78-78, and put the Griffins ahead 80-78 with a third slash to the lane (0:11). The Lightning had one last opportunity to pull even, but split foul shots left the Griffins to victory, 80-79.
Four Lightning finished in double figures, senior guard Darnell Cephas (Smyrna, DE) led the way with 20 points. He it 6-of-6 (100%) from three-point territory to highlight a 15-of-29 (51.7%) team effort; senior guard Azeez Ellegood (Wilmington, DE) and freshman guard A.J. Picard (Souderton, PA) hit four apiece and each finished with 12 points. Ellegood was one of three Lightning with at least five assists, he handed out six. Senior forward Terrence Parkes (New Rochelle, NY) contributed 19 points and grabbed, a team-high, seven rebounds while senior guard Sam McDuffie (Bronx, NY) scored 11 points.
In response to the Lightning's endless three-point barrage, the Griffins relentlessly pursued basket and ball. The Griffins outscored the Lightning 46-20 in the paint while also swiping nine steals, five from sophomore guard Francis Ashe (Greenbelt, MD). Ashe also handed out four assists in addition to supporting Comas and DiRugeris with 13 points. DiRugeris finished as the Griffins lead scorer with 24 points and Comas collected his seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Kovacevic totaled eight points in the affair, all coming in the second half.
The men's basketball team travels to Dominican College on Saturday, February 12, for their next CACC contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
