Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. – (11/13/2013) – In the end, Chestnut Hill College was their own worst enemy in tonight's contest versus West Chester University. The Griffins won the turnover battle, 19-15, and played stalwart defense, but a 52-33 rebound deficit and a 16-of-30 (.533) clip from the free throw line kept them just out of range of the Golden Rams, who claimed the win on a 71-61 final. Graduate guard Taylor Trevisan (West Chester, Pa.) led the Griffin effort with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
 
West Chester University (1-1) hit a three-pointer off the opening tip and failed to surrender the lead for the entire forty minutes. But Chestnut Hill College (1-2) kept the contest competitive, letting the Golden Rams advantage reach ten, 29-19, late in the first half (3:32) and again in the closing minute, 69-59 (0:23). Senior guard Shannon Givens (Philadelphia, Pa.) paced the Golden Rams to their eight-point halftime lead, 36-28, with ten points on a pair of three points baskets (2-of-4, .500 3PT) and couple two-point buckets (4-of-8, .500 FG). The second half saw a change in tone with increased defensive efforts leading to 33 combined turnovers and a 32.1% (9-of-28) shooting performance from the Golden Rams. Unfortunately, the Griffins 11-of-23 (.478) free throw effort and 26-12 shortcoming on the boards negated their defensive labor and allowed the Golden Rams to stay a safe distance away for the duration of the period.
 
Junior forward Cory Blake (West Chester, Pa.) hit 11-of-11 (1.000) from the free throw line and led the Golden Rams with a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds, an assist, a block, and four steals. He was supported by Givens' 13 points and a nine-point, 11-rebound output from junior center Eric Frans (Lehigh, Pa.).
 
Trevisan totaled 15 points by halftime and posted his season-high scoring effort on 9-of-13 (.692) shooting performance and a 5-of-8 (.625) clip from the free throw line. Junior forward Filip Sekulic (Danilovgrad, Montenegro) offered 11 points, four rebounds, and an assist. Sophomore forward Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.) captained the Griffin defense with four blocks and three steals.
 
The men's basketball team competes next at the College of St. Rose's Northeast-10 Challenge where they will first face St. Anselm College in a 5:00 p.m. contest on Saturday, November 16.