Philadelphia, PA – (3/4/2011) – With a 65-54 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Quarterfinal, defeat of Philadelphia University on Tuesday, March 1, the Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team advanced to the second round of championship tournament competition for the first time in program history. The remainder of the CACC Championship Tournament will be hosted by Holy Family University. As the third seed, the Griffins will engage #2 Bloomfield College in a 7:00 p.m. contest this evening, Friday, March 4.
Junior guard Uros Kovacevic (Kotor, Montenegro) was the driving force in the Griffins quarterfinal victory over Philadelphia University (15-12, 10-7). He checked-in at 14:12, hit a three-point basket, and by halftime Chestnut Hill College (12-15, 8-9) owned a 26-24 advantage and all the energy in the Gallagher Center. The Rams regained control early in the second half, 29-28, but at the 17-minute mark (17:00) Kovacevic went back to work. He scored ten straight points and propelled the Griffins on a 20-9 run, 49-37 (11:23); but the resilient Rams trimmed the deficit to five, 59-54, in the final 39 seconds. Following a Griffin timeout, Kovacevic slashed the lane once again and with three free throws from sophomore guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, NJ) the Griffins got over the hump with a ten-point victory over the Rams. The Griffins had been knocked out of the league tournament by the Rams in both of the last two seasons.
The Griffins matched up with Bloomfield College (19-8, 15-3) earlier this year. On Saturday, January 8, Chestnut Hill College hosted the Deacons in CACC regular season competition. The visiting Deacons controlled the affair from the opening tip leading by as many as 18, 36-18, in the first half, before leaving Sorgenti Arena with an 84-71 victory. The Deacons were led by the eventual CACC Player of the year, senior guard Gage Daye (Newark, NJ) who scored his 2,000th career point before finishing the contest with 32 points.
The Griffins and Deacons will square off after #1 Goldey-Beacom College and #4 Post University meet in the first CACC Semifinal matchup of the evening. The Lightning and Eagles are scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.
