Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (2/20/2016) – After exchanging halves, Chestnut Hill College and University of the Sciences (USciences) went toe-to-toe in overtime, bringing the Sorgenti Arena faithful to their feet several times in an instant Senior Day classic that GriffinNation will not soon forget. A magnificent three-point play from junior forward Gerald Evariste (Philadelphia, Pa.) captured the 73-72 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victory that returns the Scarlet and Gold to the league's championship tournament as the #4 seed in the South Division.
 
Senior guard Ryan Griffin (West Friendship, Md.) got Chestnut Hill College (12-14, 9-9) out to a strong start in his Sorgenti Swan Song, scoring 11 first-half points to help facilitate a 41-18 halftime advantage. He and fellow senior guard Sean Dougherty (Philadelphia, Pa.) dictated the early action as a Griffin jumper gave Griffins a 10-point, 16-6, advantage just before the 13-minute mark (13:01). With senior forward Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.) manning the glass, Chestnut Hill College stretched their lead to as many as 25 points, 39-14, on a long range bucket from freshman forward Bryant Quill (Pottstown, Pa.) a minute before intermission (1:07).
 
After the locker room visit the Devils owned the hardwood, breaking down the Griffin defense behind a combination of senior guard Sho Da-Silva (Moorestown, N.J.) and junior guard Jon McGill (Folsom, Pa.). Da-Silva scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half, but it was his brother Flo Da-Silva (Moorestown, N.J.) who set up McGill for a three-pointer that reduced the Chestnut Hill College advantage to just five points, 48-43, with 8:15 to play. After a trade of layups a trifecta from sophomore forward Edward McWade (Wildwood, N.J.) and a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) temporarily restored the Griffins lead to double digits, 55-45, but a string of clutch plays by senior guard T-John Casiello (Woodcrest, N.J.) helped USciences to overcome the resurgence. A McGill jumper eventually tied the game, 61-61, with 12 seconds (0:12) left to play but that was just the preamble to the afternoon's main attraction.

A packed Sorgenti Arena hung on every overtime basket, stopping their feet and clapping their hands with pure astonishment as Hightower made a bucket from the seat of his pants (63-63 @ 4:26) and Griffin connected from long range (66-66 @ 3:55) before Evariste put himself in the perfect position for a pair of opportune baskets. The first was a layup off a Griffin pass with seven seconds (0:07) to go and the second was an emphatic flush off on a well-placed pass from McWade that tied the affair, 72-72, and earned Evariste a game-winning trip to the free throw line. Needless to say, he converted the three-point play sending Coach Balcer and the Griffins to their eighth CACC Championship Tournament.
 
Sho Da-Silva led all scorers with 26 points. He also recorded eight rebounds, an assist, and a steal to headline the Devils' effort. Flo Da-Silva and sophomore forward Will Gregorits (Burke, Va.) each recorded 11 points while junior guard Brian Okolo (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished with 10 points. Da-Silva added five rebounds, five assists, and a steal to his double digit effort.
 
Griffin and Evariste both totaled 17 points to lead Chestnut Hill College. Griffin was 7-of-12 (.583) from the floor, hitting three (3-of-7, .429) from beyond the arch while providing four assists and a steal while Evariste was 6-of-8 (.750) from the floor and 5-of-5 (1.000) from the free throw line in addition to grabbing eight rebounds in his career-high scoring performance. McWade contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, an assist, and a steal while Isaac was solid at point with eight points, six rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Hightower was also a factor with six points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
 
The men's basketball team concludes their 2015-2016 regular season on Tuesday, February 23, with an 8:00 p.m. CACC contest at Philadelphia University.