Philadelphia, Pa. – (12/1/2018) – Chestnut Hill College welcomed the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to Sorgenti Arena of today's non-conference tilt. The Scarlet and Gold led by as many as eight points, 15-7 (13:50), in the opening 10 minutes of the affair, but the Firebirds recovered for a 42-36 (0:22) halftime lead before securing an 83-74 victory. Four Griffins finished in double figures; the quartet was headlined by a season and career-high, 19-point, scoring performance from junior guard Billy Miller VI (Pine Hill, N.J.). At halftime of the contest, the Chestnut Hill College Department of Athletics and Recreation recognized the senior classes of the sprint football, women's cross country, and men's cross country programs.
  Miller got Chestnut Hill College (2-5) off to a strong start as the Scarlet and Gold first controlled an eight-point advantage, 10-2, at 16:06 of the opening frame. The University of the District of Columbia (5-2) erased the Griffins' lead over the next four minutes as the Firebirds trailed by a single point, 19-18, with 11:42 remaining. They continued their run to a 22-21 lead at 9:42 and traded blows with Chestnut Hill College until back-to-back three point baskets from senior guard Quadire Truesdale (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior guard Zachary Olukanni (Teaneck, N.J.) propelled them to a 42-36 halftime edge.
 
After intermission, freshman guard Trevonn Pitts (Wyncote, Pa.) reignited the Griffin flame, with a pair of three point baskets (14:56, 14:12) and a layup (12:31) in a 20-8 run that saw Chestnut Hill College stake a 56-50 advantage. Unfortunately, the Firebirds answered with some impressive perimeter of their own, using a 13-of-32 (406) three point shooting effort to reassume the lead, 57-56, midway (10:33) through frame and distanced themselves by double digits, 78-68, in the final minute (0:51) of the fray.
 
Truesdale led UDC with 17 points; he was 6-of-14 (.429) from the floor, 3-of-7 (.429) from thee point range, and 2-of-2 (1.000) from the free throw line, while recording four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Colon (3-of-8, .375 3PT) and Cox (3-of-6, .500 3PT)) each finished with 15 points and hit three threes as well. The latter also recorded a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Miller matched his season and career-high point total with a 7-of-12 (.583) shooting performance that included four (4-of-8, 500), three point baskets and came with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. McWade and Pitts each totaled 14 points; the former also recorded two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while the latter additionally supplied five rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. Senior forward Dexter Thompson (Providence, R.I.) was the fourth Griffin in double figures with 11 points in excess of a team-high eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
 
Chestnut Hill College returns to Sorgenti Arena next Saturday, December 8, for a 3:00 p.m.  Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) season opener against the University of the Sciences (USciences).