Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (1/3/2016) – In a game where both sides seemed reluctant to score, free throws and defense were the story in a 59-48 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) final that fell in the visitor's favor. Holy Family University wrestled for a three-point, 26-23, halftime lead which they never surrendered, overcoming Chestnut Hill College's 50-39 rebounding advantage with a 12-17 edge in turnovers and a slightly better shooting effort (30.9%-28.1%). Junior forward Gerald Evariste (Philadelphia, Pa.) and senior forward Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.) headlined the Griffin side of the box score with a combined 15 points, 19 rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal.
 
An uneventful first half saw Holy Family University (11-3, 5-0) take the lead from Chestnut Hill College (5-8, 2-3) for the last time with less than five minutes remaining, 18-16 (4:27). Senior guard Eric Fleming (Philadelphia, Pa.), who was the only player to give a good showing from three-point range (4-of-7, .571), buried back-to-back three-point baskets to bring the Tigers from one point down, 16-15 (4:44), to five points ahead, 21-16 (3:58), with senior guard Marvin Crawford (Edison, N.J.) preserving the Tiger advantage at three points, 26-23, heading to the halftime break.
 
Following intermission, the local league rivals forced play to the free throw line. Chestnut Hill College used it to their advantage, controlling the boards (26-20), and working their way back within one point, 36-35, midway through the half (9:55). Unfortunately, a series of ill-timed fouls separated Holy Family University for a six-point advantage, 41-35 (7:52), on a Crawford three-point play. Over the bonus and desperate for a break, the Griffins lost an uphill battle that saw the Tiger lead balloon to double digits, 54-44 (1:29), in the final minutes and rest at 11 points, 59-48, on a pair of closing free throws from senior guard Reggie Charles (Philadelphia, Pa.).
 
Crawford finished as the Tigers' lead scorer with 15 points in addition to nine rebounds, an assist, a block, and two steals. Flemming totaled 13 points, Charles recorded 12 points, and senior forward Derrick Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa.) grabbed 11 rebounds. Charles added three rebounds, six assists, and three steals to his double figure performance.

No Griffin reached double figures for the first time since the season opener of the 2012-2013 season (Radtke '15, Ashe '14, Saintilus, L, 59-78 @ Stonehill College, 11/10/12). Evariste's nine points off the bench stood as the team leader. He added eight rebounds and a blocks to his paint play while his post partner, Hightower, totaled seven points, a team-high 11 rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
 
The men's basketball team heads to Post University on Wednesday, January 6, when they face the Eagles in an 4:00 p.m. CACC contest.