Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (1/24/2018) – Highly-competitive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) play continued tonight in Sorgenti Arena as Chestnut Hill College led Jefferson University as late as 5:50 (67-65) in the second half and tied the Rams four times in the final five minutes, before landing on the short side of a 78-75 final. Tonight's three-point spread was settled by an untimely foul that put senior guard Kaison Randolph (Trenton, N.J.) at the free throw line for the deciding points. Five Griffins finished in double figures; junior forward Tony Toplyn Jr. (Sicklerville, N.J.) was the high scorer with 16 points in excess of four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.

 

Senior forward Yevgen Sakhniuk (Kiev, Ukraine) paced Jefferson University out to a double digit lead, 25-15, at 12:15. The spread remained there five minutes later (33-23, 7:14), but soon decreased as free throws from junior guard Cartier Talford (Reading, Pa.) (33-25, 7:14), a three pointer from freshman Colin Flach (Glenside, Pa.) (33-28, 5:38), and a Toplyn jumper reduced the margin to just three points, 33-30, just past the five-minute mark (4:56). A three pointer from junior guard Liban Awl (Manassas, Va.) at 2:52 tied the game at 37-37 and a pair of Toplyn free throws put Chestnut Hill College (2-16, 1-10) in the lead, 39-37, at 2:18. The following Randolph three put the Rams ahead, 40-39, just seconds later (2:03), but senior guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) made sure the Griffins had the final word when he found Toplyn to tie the contest just before intermission, 43-43 (0:04).
 
At the start of the second half, Chestnut Hill College seized the opportunity and grabbed an eight-point, 52-44 (16:41), edge on a Talford three point basket. But a put back from junior forward Roman Letterlough (Harrisburg, Pa.) (54-45, 14:37) was the only Scarlet and Gold score to stem the tide in a Ram run that evened the contest, 59-59, midway through the frame (10:14). From there neither side led by more the four points (Jefferson, 73-69, 2:57) and the game tied four times before Randolph hit his game-winning free throws.
 
Randolph was the top scorer of the Rams' six participants with 22 points. He also recorded four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Sakhniuk was his top supporter with 18 points, eight rebounds, and an assist.
 
Toplyn hit all seven (7-of-7, 1.000) of his shots from the floor and 2-of-3 (.667) free throws in his 16-point scoring effort, but it was Awl who led Griffins down the stretch with eight of his 14 points coming in the final 10 minutes. Awl also recorded six rebounds and an assist as Chestnut Hill College's top reserve. Talford, Isaac, and senior center Chris Evans (Norristown, Pa.) all scored a dozen (12) points.
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team continues their CACC schedule on Saturday, January 27, when they visit Concordia College (NY) for a 3:00 p.m. contest.