Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. – (12/9/2014) – A consistent team defense was not enough to overcome a cold first half and a 45-30 rebounding deficit as Chestnut Hill College fell to, cross-city rival, Philadelphia University by a 63-49 final in this evening's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) fray. Senior guard Christian Walck (Lancaster, Pa.) headlined the Griffins aggressive resistance which forced 16 Ram turnovers and kept the Chestnut Hill College competitive despite a dismal shooting performance and an inferior rebounding effort.

Philadelphia University (5-4, 3-1) gradually pulled away for a 34-16 halftime advantage with their 25-12 rebounding edge and a 22.6% (7-of-31) Chestnut Hill College (2-6, 1-2) shooting effort trumping the Griffins consistent defensive play. Walck got senior center Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, Pa.) involved and then scored seven straight points, while grabbing a rebound, and making off with two steals in a 13-4 run that narrowed a 21-point deficit, 43-22 (15:55), to 12 points, 47-35, with 10:06 to play. The senior playmaker directed a concerted team effort that kept the Rams within a dozen, 53-41, until a Radtke jumper and three successful foul shots from sophomore guard Billy Cassidy (Primos, Pa.) cut the spread to its tightest at seven points, 53-46, with 3:40 to go. Unfortunately, that is as close as the Griffins got as they kept the Rams within seven until 1:47, 55-48, before fighting the clock in the Rams parade to the free throw line.

Senior guard Nick Schlitzer (Pottsville, Pa.) led the Rams with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. He was supported by an 11-point, 11-rebound, double-double from junior forward Peter Alexis (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), who provided an assist and three blocks while securing the Rams interior, and junior guard Andre Gibbs (Smyrna, Del.), who offered 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and one assist. Junior forward Derek Johnson (Conshohocken, Pa.) was the fourth Ram in double figures, hitting three three-pointers (3-of-6, 50.5%) in a 13-point effort that came with six rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Walck came off the Griffins bench for 16 points on a 5-of-9 (55.6%) shooting performance that stood out as a lone bright spot in a 29.0% (18-of-62) team effort. He also recorded a team-high six rebounds while handing out two assists. Radtke finished with 11 points and four rebounds.

The men's basketball team returns home for a pair games before the holiday break, the first is an 8:00 p.m. CACC contest on Wednesday, December 17, against Goldey-Beacom College.