Box Score Colchester, Vt. - (12/19/2015) – Chestnut Hill College heads into the holiday break on a high note, triumphing over the Purple Knights 75-63 in today's contest at the Ross Sports Center. Sophomore forward Edward McWade (Wildwood, N.J.) was as the center of the Griffins winning effort, which outshot St. Michael's College (51.4%-45.2%) in the opening half and united behind senior forward Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.) in the second. McWade's 21 points matched a career-high and led four of the Griffins' starting five players that finished in double figures.

Chestnut Hill College (5-7) had it going early with senior guard Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.) and McWade connecting on a series of three-point baskets that established a 22-12 Griffin lead at 13:29 of the first half. Only seconds later (13:06), McWade forced a St. Michael's College (1-9) turnover that sprang sophomore guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) for a transition bucket that pushed the Griffins' first half advantage to a dozen points, 24-12. But the Purple Knights were not so easily defeated, slowing the game down with a parade to the free throw line that reduced the Chestnut Hill College favor to a single point, 26-25, with 7:40 remaining. It was not until a flurry of action from freshman forward Antonio Toplyn Jr. (Sicklerville, Pa.) and another strong play from McWade that the Griffins found some breathing room behind a 41-36 halftime spread. Behind Hightower the Griffins limited St. Michael's shot quality in the second half, controlling the home side to a 24.2% (8-of-33) shooting performance that allowed Chestnut Hill College to a 10-point lead, 57-47, midway through the closing period (11:30). A heroic effort from McWade prompted the Purple Knights to force the Griffins to the free throw line where victory followed on a quartet of game-clinching free throws from Isaac and Dickson.

Senior forward Morrell Gaskins (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) led the Purple Knights with 15 points, seven rebounds, and a block. He was supported by 25 bench points from junior guard Zaire Williams (Paterson, N.J.) and freshman guard Derek Cheatom (Buffalo, N.Y.); Williams recorded two rebounds and a steal in addition to his 14 points while Cheatom grabbed two rebounds and made a steal in access of his 11 points.

McWade scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game, hitting 8-of-14 (.571) from the field, 2-of-5 (.400) from three-point range, and 3-of-3 (1.000) at the free throw line in his third 21-point effort of the year. Dickson and junior forward Gerald Evariste (Philadelphia, Pa.) each offered 16 points to the win while Isaac was the fourth Griffin in double figures with 10 points. Hightower was the playmaker, filling up the box score with eight points, 12 rebounds, three assists, four blocks, and a steal.

Chestnut Hill College returns to their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule in the New Year as they welcome Holy Family University to Sorgenti Arena for a 3:00 p.m. contest on Sunday, January 3.