Box Score Shippensburg, Pa. – (11/17/2012) – Chestnut Hill College brought all things even early in the season with today's 86-76 win over Lock Haven University at the 2012 Wolf's Bus Line Classic. The Griffins seized the lead in the final seven minutes of the first half, 24-21 (7:00), before escaping a mid second-half Eagle run to earn a ten-point win. Senior guards Francis Ashe (Hyattsville, Md.) and Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) anchored a team effort that had five Griffins finish in double figures and forced 24 Eagles turnovers.
 
Junior forward Kasheef Festus (Philadelphia, Pa.) looked to play the hero for Lock Haven University (1-1), powering the Eagles back from a 41-31 early second half deficit (19:22) to within one of Chestnut Hill College (2-2), 55-54, midway through the closing period. He totaled a game-high 25 points, 14 of them came in the second half, and eight in the 23-14 run that nearly brought the Eagles even with 10:46 left to play. A determined Griffin effort was fueled by Ashe who contributed his second career double-double in the process of leading Chestnut Hill College back to a ten-point lead, 69-59, by the six-minute mark (6:03). The Griffin advantage grew to as many as 15, 84-69, in the final seconds (0:34) with sophomore forward Alssene Saintilus (Irvington, N.J.) and sophomore guard Christian Walck (Lancaster, Pa.) sinking the game-clinching free-throws.
 
Festus added nine rebounds, a block, and two steals to his game-high scoring performance. He was complimented by 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and a steal from sophomore guard Wali Hepburn (Philadelphia, Pa.). The duo combined to go 14-of-27 (.519) from the floor and 15-of-21 (.714) from the free throw line as the engine of the Eagle effort.
 
Ashe recorded 17 points and ten rebounds in his double-double performance. He also offered four assists, a block, and four steals to the victory. DiRugeris finished as the Griffins leading scorer with 19 points on a 7-of-14 (.500) shooting performance and a 4-of-4 (1.000) effort from the free throw line. Saintilus and sophomore center Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, Pa.) each chipped in 14 points while sophomore guard Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.) scored 12 points as the other three Griffins in double figures.
 
The men's basketball team completes their early-season non-conference road schedule with a 7:00 p.m. contest at Bloomsburg University on Tuesday, November 20.