Box Score Baltimore, Md. - (11/23/2015) – At tipoff Chestnut Hill College sprinted out to a quick 7-0 advantage as an opening dunk from junior forward Gerald Evariste (Philadelphia, Pa.) was followed by back-to-back baskets from senior guard Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.). But the Griffin lead soon vanished behind the Eagles' superior rebounding and defensive effort that earned the home team a 46-40 halftime lead and an eventual 92-75 victory this evening. Dickson lead the Griffins with 15 points while Evariste tied his career scoring mark set earlier this season with 14 points.
 
Dickson kept Chestnut Hill College (1-3) in contention for the first half, hitting 3-of-4 (.750) from three-point territory in a 5-of-7 (.714) shooting performance that left the Griffins down 46-40 at intermission. After the Griffins' initial lead, Coppin State University (2-2) reversed the current behind their backcourt trio; starters, junior guards Christian Kessee (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Keith Shivers (Upper Marlboro, Md.) each offered 11 points in the period, while classmate James Sylvester (Toronto, Canada) totaled ten points. They combined to hit 6-of-10 (.600) from long range, spurring the Eagles led by double digits at 8:27, 30-20, and maxed their first-half lead at 14 points, 34-20 (7:15), on a fastbreak layup by Sylvester. The Griffins got back into the fray with in the closing minutes of the period, cutting the margin to six points, 37-31, before the three minute mark (3:07) and a couple of late three-point baskets from freshman forward Dakpe Yiljep (Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria) kept the spread there for halftime, 46-40.
 
After talking things over the Griffins again offered the initial strike, on five straight points from sophomore forward Edward McWade (Wildwood, N.J.), who single handedly cut the Eagles lead to 46-45 just 1:47 into the closing half. Alas, the Eagles recovered, forcing their way to the free throw line, where they converted their free chances to reestablish their advantage at double digits by 13:19, 57-47, then 20 points at 9:15, 71-51, before peaking at 24 points, 77-53, less than two minutes later (7:51). Chestnut Hill College looked the bench for answers and found freshman forward Bryant Quill (Pottstown, Pa.) and sophomore guard James Lewis (Philadelphia, Pa.), who helped the Griffins cut the final spread to 17 point, 92-75.
 
Four Eagles finished in double figures, led by 17 points apiece from Kessee and junior forward Terry Harris Jr. (Baltimore, Md.). Harris added 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal, picking up for Kessee and his backcourt partners who cooled off in a free-throw heavy second half. Shivers and Sylvester both finished with 11 points while junior forward Joshua Treadwell (Newark, N.J.) was the fifth Eagle in double digits with ten points. Sylvester added seven rebounds, four assists, a block, and two steals to his scoring.
 
Dickson and Evarsite split halves leading Chestnut Hill College with the Griffins senior point showcasing in the first half before finishing with 15 points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal while the junior post accumulated his 14 points off four rebounds and an efficient 6-of-7 (.857) shooting effort. Sophomore forward Edward McWade (Wildwood, N.J.) contributed nine points, three rebounds, an assist and block.
 
Chestnut Hill College returns to Sorgenti Arena on Wednesday, November 25, to host Millersville University in a 1:00 p.m. contest before the Thanksgiving break.