Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. – (1/3/2013) – An indecisive Chestnut Hill College was its own worst enemy in the opening half as a 8-of-27 (29.6%) shooting performance and 11 turnovers left the Griffins ten points behind Dowling College at halftime, 30-20. Following the break a different team took the home bench as senior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) fronted an aggressive attack that reversed the game's fortunes and eventually won the Griffins a 69-63 overtime victory. DiRugeris led all participants with 21 points while sophomore center Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, Pa.) anchored the Griffin effort with his fourth double-double.
 
Chestnut Hill College (6-7) stumbled out of the gates while Dowling College (3-7) took advantage with four double-digit leads in the first half. Senior guard Josh Malone (Deer Park, N.Y.) drilled a three-point shot at 14:05 to give the Golden Lions their first ten-point lead, 12-2. The Griffins struggled to find their shot and made cuts into the Golden Lion lead, but at intermission they still trailed by the same spread, 30-20. After the break, the Golden Lions briefly continued their shooting success, growing their lead to as many as 15 points, 35-20 (17:56), before a determined DiRugeris willed the Griffins back into the contest. Flanked by Radtke and senior guard Francis Ashe (Hyattsville, Md.), DiRugeris scored 14 points in a 27-10 run that left the home team up two points, 47-45, midway through the second half (9:52). From there the Griffin lead momentarily grew to seven points, 56-49 (3:38), only to have the Golden Lions respond with a 9-0 run that left them up two points, 58-56, with 31 seconds remaining (0:31). The Griffins initial game-tying attempt touched a Golden Lion before falling out of bounds, allowing a home timeout, and a well choreographed play to find Radtke for a wide open bucket, 58-58 (0:13). In the extra stanza Ashe beat his defender to the bucket first, 60-58 (4:13), leaving the Golden Lions reeling and DiRugeris, Radtke, and freshman guard Christian Walck (Lancaster Pa.) to seal the deal from the free throw line.
 
Malone led four Golden Lions who reached double figures. He hit 7-of-15 (46.7%) from the floor, including 4-of-8 (50.0%) from three-point range, and 1-of-2 (50.0%) from the free throw line to total 19 points in addition to six rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Sophomore guard Darien Davis (Middle Island, N.Y.) provided an important 12 points off the Golden Lion bench while junior forward Justin Alexander (Staten Island, N.Y.) and senior guard Ronald Baker (Bronx, N.Y.) each finished with 11 points. Alexander was a key contributor for the Golden Lions, providing a team-high eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and three steals to his double-digit scoring total.
 
Despite a 4-of-16 (25.0%) shooting performance, DiRugeris shot a perfect 10-of-10 (100.0%) from the free throw line to go along with his six rebounds and a steal. Radtke totaled 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with his two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Ashe finished with 12 points while Walck came through at the right time with four points, two rebounds, five assists, a block, and three steals.
 
The men's basketball team will be on the road on this Saturday, January 5, when they return to Central Atlantic Collegiate (CACC) play with at 3:00 p.m. at Nyack College.