Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. – (11/23/2016) – Sophomore guard Liban Awl (Manassas, Va.) poured in a career-high 22 points – including a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line- to lead the Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team to a 79-77 non-conference victory over East Stroudsburg University at Sorgenti Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Chestnut Hill College (2-2) jumped out to an early eight point advantage, following five straight points by junior forward Chris Evans (Norristown, Pa.). The Griffins were able to extend their advantage to 13 following an Awl three-pointer. East Stroudsburg University (3-3) trimmed the deficit down to six following a layup by senior forward Steve Harris (Hamilton, N.J.), but that is as close as they would come for the remainder of the half as excellent shooting from the field – 54.8% (17-of-31) – allowed the hosts to extend their lead. The lead would balloon to 23 points following a tip-in by sophomore forward Dakpe Yiljep (Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria) with 2:41 remaining, and would stay hovering around 20 points, with Awl burying a trey with five seconds remaining to send the Griffins into the break with the 44-22 lead.
 
Chestnut Hill College started the second half right where they finished the first half, attacking the basket and scoring the ball. A Yiljep layup followed by a pair of made technical free throws by Evans would put the Griffins up by 25 - 52-27 – and looking to cruise to victory. The Warriors wouldn't relent however, employing a full-court press that increased the pace of play and forced the Scarlet and Gold into unforced errors. Holding a 63-48 advantage with just under 10 minutes to play in the contest, the Griffins looked primed to clinch a victory and their second consecutive win. The visitors would not relent, however, with a steal by sophomore guard Kitt Najee Walls (Philadelphia, Pa.) leading to a fast-break layup for sophomore Nick Giordano (Broomall, Pa.) to cut the deficit down to four, 73-69.
 
A pair of Yiljep free throws would stake the hosts to a 77-72 lead with 1:27 to play, setting the stage for the game's climatic finish. With 26 seconds remaining senior forward Rasheed Moore (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) took a feed from senior Quindell Brice (Tobyhanna, Pa.) and finished strong to knot the contest at 77-77. Awl would prove to be the difference-maker, driving to the hoop and drawing a blocking foul with one second remaining in the game. He calmly stepped to the line and sank both free throws to secure the 79-77 victory for the Griffins.
 
Awl's 22 points came on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from downtown and a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. Yiljep missed a double-double by two rebounds, scoring 10 points and hauling in eight boards. Evans poured in 15 points while junior Ed McWade (Wildwood, N.J.) also scored in double figures, offering 12 points and seven boards.
 
Moore had a monster game for the visitors, scoring 28 points (24 in the second half) to go along with nine rebounds. Brice also scored in double figures, adding 12 points, with Walls dishing out a team-high five assists in the defeat.
 
The Griffins return to action on Sunday, November 27, when they travel to Southern New Hampshire University for a 1:00 p.m. contest.