Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. – (2/5/2013) – For Wilmington University, the first half of tonight's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest could not end quickly enough. Senior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) ignited Chestnut Hill College, contributing 20 points to a 44-27 halftime advantage and seven three pointers 7-of-11 (63.6%) to an eventual 86-67 victory over Wilmington University. Fellow senior guard Francis Ashe (Hyattsville, Md.) completed the Griffins two-headed monster, dominating the early minutes of the second half to score 12 of his 21 points in the closing frame.
 
Chestnut Hill College (10-9, 6-4) left Wilmington University (4-17, 4-9) gasping for air as DiRugeris drowned the Wildcats bucket after bucket. He scored the game's first points and hit two three-pointers in a 19-8 opening run that left Sorgenti Arena in pandemonium just six minutes (14:03) into the affair. The Griffins continued to shoot well throughout the first half (17-of-30, 56.7%) as the Wildcats could only slow them down before a DiRugeris four-point play left the home team up 20 points, 44-24, with 42 seconds (0:42) remaining in the period. The Wildcats managed to cut the deficit to 17 points by halftime, 44-27, thanks to a long range bucket from junior guard Herbert Dennis (Ridgely, Md.). In the second half the Wildcats could only keep pace. They did so until the Griffin advantage ballooned to 28 points, 81-53, on layup from freshman forward Jordan McDaniel (Colonia, N.J.) at 3:30. The run left the contest to garbage time where the Wildcats cut the final spread to 19 points, 86-67.
 
Senior forward Brandon Fox (Deptford, N.J.) led the Wildcat effort with 17 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a block. Dennis was his compliment with 13 points, two rebounds, five assists, and a steal.
 
DiRugeris was 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the field and 2-of-2 (100.0%) from the free throw line in his 29-point performance. Ashe was DiRugeris' running partner in the first half, but he took over after intermission, scoring the Griffins first ten points of the second half. Ashe was 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the floor and 3-of-5 (60.0%) from the free throw line while also recording seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal. McDaniel finished with a season-high 12 points while junior guard Jakeem Bogans (Philadelphia, Pa.) helped fuel the offense with eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
 
The men's basketball team travels to Caldwell College for their next CACC contest; a 3:00 p.m. tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, February 9.