Box Score Baltimore, Md. - (11/28/2016) – Placing all five starters in double figures, Chestnut Hill College used an early first-half run, led by sophomores Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Dakpe Yiljep (Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria), to gain the separation necessary to secure a 76-73 victory at, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I member, Coppin State University. The aggression earned the Griffins a 40-33 halftime lead, which they eventually reestablished at 68-58, before withstanding the Eagles late-game rally.
 
The combination of Isaac and Yiljep scored 11 straight Chestnut Hill College (3-3) points in a two-minute stretch that saw the Griffins emerge from an early tit-for-tat to lead 18-9 on an Isaac old fashion three-point play at 14:19. Less than three minutes (11:37) later, an Isaac free throw pushed the lead to 10 points, 24-14, for the first time and in the waning minutes of the frame and it would be more Isaac free throws that distanced the Scarlet and Gold by as many as 13 points, 38-25 (1:58). In the end, the Eagles committed 15 first-half turnovers and watched the Scarlet and Gold capitalize on their more frequent visitation to the free throw line (11-of-13, 84.6%) to trail by seven points, 40-33, at intermission.
 
As a result the hosts consistently played catch-up in the second half. Coppin State University first tied the contest at 40-40 (17:38) behind a familiar one-two backcourt combination of freshman Dejuan Clayton (Bowie, Md.) and guard Tre' Thomas (Largo, Md.). Only for a 10-1 Chestnut Hill College run, sparked by a Yiljep layup and an and-one from junior forward Ed McWade (Wildwood, N.J.), reestablished a nine-point, 50-41, deficit a little more than three minutes (14:18) later. Again, the Eagles retaliated, working the deficit back to just two points, 58-56 (10:01), before the Griffins flew away once more. Chestnut Hill College got to the free throw line several times in an 8-1 run that left them ahead 66-57 at 7:15, but it was an old fashion three-point play from sophomore guard Liban Awl (Manassas, Va.) that pushed the difference to 11 points, 69-58, at 5:45. The Eagles had one more rally left in them, fortunately it too fell short in an enduring 76-73 Griffins victory.
 
Clayton led the Eagles with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Thomas played a complimentary role with 16 points, one rebound, and two assists. Junior forward Blake Simpson (Cincinnati, Ohio) led their rebounding effort with 10 caroms retrieved.

An extra bucket and a 24-of-32 (75.0%) effort from the charity stripe accounted for the Chestnut Hill College favor in the contest. Isaac was the top contributor, hitting all eight (8-of-8) of his free throws in an 18-point effort that came with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Yiljep offered a team-high nine rebounds and three steals in addition to his 17 points. Awl (13 points), McWade (11), and junior center Chris Evans (Norristown, Pa.) (10) were the other three Griffin starters in double figures.
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team returns to their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) on Wednesday, November 30, when they visit Holy Family University for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff.