Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (12/6/2014) – Chestnut Hill College refused to let Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) power Bloomfield College pull away in a run-and-gun shootout this afternoon. The Griffins kept coming, erasing multiple double-digit deficits to take a three-point lead, 84-81, with 1:36 to play. Unfortunately, the Bears made all the plays down the stretch, scoring the next seven points, 88-84, and hanging on for a 90-86 result and their third straight win in a fast-paced, up-and-down thriller at Sorgenti Arena. Despite their best efforts, the Griffins were unable to knock off Bloomfield College for the first time in 10 tries since joining the CACC in 2007.
Chestnut Hill College (2-5, 1-1) trailed 9-2 right out of the gates, and watched their deficit fluctuate between three and 10 points until deep into the second half. The preseason CACC North Division favorite, Bloomfield College (3-3, 2-0) led by double digits, 73-63, as late as the 6:44 mark before the home side made its move. The Griffins slowly chipped away at the spread, which stood at 81-76 with 3:17 to play before an inspiring 8-0 run left them with a lead. After a layup by junior guard
Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.), 81-78, and a steal at the other end, senior center
Filip Sekulic (Danilovgrad, Montenegro) corralled a loose ball and surged to the basket for a powerful two-handed slam that made it 81-80 (2:41).
The Griffins forced another Bloomfield College turnover before taking their first lead of the contest, 82-81, on a layup by senior guard
Christian Walck (Lancaster, Pa.) with 2:16 remaining. Two free throws by Walck pushed the lead to 84-81 with 1:36 left, but that was as good as it got for Chestnut Hill College. Senior guard Matt Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.) bulled his way to the bucket for layups on back-to-back possessions to give the Bears the lead again, 85-84 with a minute to play. The Griffins had a chance to take it back, but a three-pointer went begging and Bloomfield College came away with a steal after Sekulic grabbed an offensive rebound. Bears junior guard Clarence White (Bronx, N.Y.) secured the ball after a scramble and was headed the other way before being wrapped up by Chestnut Hill College senior center
Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, Pa.) with 11.4 ticks left. The officials deemed it an intentional foul, giving the Bears two shots and the ball. White split the pair, 86-84, and Bloomfield College converted on its free possession as White scored on a breakaway layup, 88-84. Walck scored on a layup with 3.7 seconds left, but the Griffins were forced to foul, and White iced the game with two free throws with 2.8 seconds to go, 90-86.
White made plenty of clutch plays for the Bears, but it was freshman forward Nick Davidson (Lumberton, N.J.) who helped keep the hosts at arm's length, leading five Bloomfield College players in double figures with a career-high 26 points on 12-of-16 (75.0%) shooting from the field. Hall finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while senior guard Marvin Williams (Jersey City, N.J.) and junior forward Claude Blue (Brooklyn, N.Y.) provided 14 points each. White posted 11 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.
Sekulic was the engine that drove the Griffin machine once again, recording his second double-double in three games with 22 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Walck turned in another strong effort with 21 points on 6-of-10 (60.0%) shooting from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 performance at the line. He also added seven rebounds and five assists. Radtke collected 14 points, while Dickson stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
The men's basketball team returns to CACC action on Tuesday, December 9, with an 8:00 p.m. tip at crosstown rival and defending conference champion Philadelphia University.
Postgame Interview with Joe Tordy (ESPN Williamsport)
