Box Score Caldwell, N.J. – (2/14/2013) – Senior guards, Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) and Francis Ashe (Hyattsville, Md.) led Chestnut Hill College to a 75-72 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) triumph at Caldwell College this evening as the Griffins led by as many as  14 points, 51-37, before the Cougars made things interesting. With a 29-17 run the Cougars cut the gap to two-points, 68-66, with 1:32 remaining for Ashe to hit a clutch jumper that allowed the Griffins to secure a CACC victory from the free throw line.
 
Chestnut Hill College (12-10, 8-5) made a strong statement in the first half by holding Caldwell College (7-17, 3-12) behind a 14-point lead, 28-14, on the shooting of DiRugeris and Ashe's versatile play. The Griffins endured a brief Cougar rally before controlling a 38-30 halftime margin and building a 14-point lead, 51-37, with Ashe and sophomore center Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, Pa.) dominating the first four minutes of second-half play (16:13). Unfortunately, senior center Karel Thuwis (Zonhoven, Belgium) started a Cougar trend that ended with freshman guard Dawan Lighty (Paterson, N.J.) hitting a jumper to cut the Griffin advantage to seven points, 68-61, with 3:47 still to play. The Cougars would cut the deficit to two points, 68-66, with 1:32 to play, but Ashe hit a clutch jumper before DiRugeris sealed the triumph from the foul line.    
 
Sophomore forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, N.J.) led the Cougars with a double-double effort off the bench that consisted of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Lighty had a solid game as well with 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists. The Cougars top two performers were supported by nine points and nine rebounds from senior forward Kairo Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and three rebounds, seven assists, a block, and a steal from freshman guard Brian Kenny (Howell, N.J.).
 
DiRugeris Jr. scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, hitting 6-of-10 (60.0%) from the field, 2-of-6 (33/3%) from three-point range, and a perfect 5-of-5 (100.0%) from the free throw line while grabbing two rebounds, an assist, and a block to lead the Griffins to victory. Ashe was effective on both ends of the court with 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Bogans offered 14 points while Radtke finished the evening with four points, nine rebounds, and a steal.  
 
The men's basketball team returns home on Saturday, February 16, when they face CACC foe, Felician College in a 3:00 p.m. match.