Flushing, N.Y. - (11/10/2017) The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team opened their 2017-2018 season tonight on the road at Queens College. The Griffins faced an early struggle defensively unable to silence the Knights from the three-point arc which would ultimately be the key to Queens College's 78-56 victory. Senior guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Griffins for a 16-point team high on a 4-of-13 (.307) field goal percentage that included one three-point basket (1-2, .500) and was supported by a 7-of-8 (.875) effort at the free throw line.

The two teams traded baskets to open the first period, with two made free-throws from junior guard Liban Awl (Manassas, Va.) edging the hosts in front by one point, 5-4, with 16:30 remaining in the half. The Knights (1-0) struck quickly after that, opening a nine-point,15-4, lead following a three-pointer by senior guard Tyrone Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with 14:12 remaining. Chestnut Hill College (0-1) struggled to defend the three-point (7-of-17) line which was the determining factor for the 40-27 Queens College lead by the end of the first half.

After intermission the Knights grew their lead slowly but the Griffins picked up their defensive intensity holding their opponents to five-points, 45-31, for the first five-minutes of the second half. Unfortunately, the Scarlet and Gold could not find their rhythm to defensively shut down Queens College's shooting threats from behind the arc, resulting in a 78-56 loss. 

Hall led Queens College netting 16 points, going 4-of-6 (.666) from the three, two rebounds, and one steal. Coming off the bench freshman guard Tyrese Crosdale (Bronx, N.Y.) was another three-point (3-of-8, .375) threat for the Knights, and followed with 13 points, six rebounds, and one steal. Sophomore forward Kevin Buron (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and freshman guard Keenan Gorski (Melbourne, Australia) both recorded 10 points each. The Knights shot 45.8 percent for the game overall and 40 percent from downtown in the win.

Issac added one assist to his 16 points, with junior guard Dexter Thompson (Providence, R.I.) recording 10 points (3-of-3 fgm, 4-of-4 ftm) six rebounds, and one steal.  Junior forward Tony Toplyn Jr. (Sicklerville, N.J.) notched eight points and six rebounds followed by seven points each from Awl and junior forward Roman Letterlough (Harrisburg, Pa.). The Griffins recorded 33.3 percent from the field and 95.5 percent from the free-throw line in the season opener loss.

 The Griffins will return to action on Wednesday, December15, when they visit non-conference foe West Chester University at 7:00 p.m.