The Chestnut Hill College Men's Basketball team held off a strong rally from host Bloomfield College  Saturday afternoon with Conor Regan's block on a game tying layup attempt with 0.2 seconds left sealing a 79-77 win over the Bears.

The Griffins improve to 7-7 overall and 2-2 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games.  The win was also the Griffins first ever in 16 tries against the Bears dating back to the 2008-09 season.   Bloomfield falls to 6-6- overall and 3-1 in league play.

Five different players reached double figures for scoring in the balanced effort by the Griffins.  They were led by junior Nigel Haughton's 15 points. (5-12 FG)  Haughton also packed the stat sheet with nine rebounds and six assists.

James Rider IV added 13 points (5-10 FG, 3-5 3FG) along with MJ Iraldi (4-8 FG, 4-5 3FG).  Iraldi was seeing his first action since an injury sidelined him after the California game on November 23.  Amir Warrick and Trevonn Pitts had ten points and seven rebounds apiece.  Regan finished the game with eight points.

The Griffins jumped out to a 46-24 lead in the first half with a well-balanced effort with nine different players scoring (six of which had five or more points) with rider leading the way with eight points.  Chestnut Hill was strong from beyond the arc in the period, connecting on eight of 14 shots from three-point range (57.1%).

The lead increased to its largest point, 58-33 just five minutes into the second half when the Bears slowly began to chip away.  The Bears produced a 22-4 uprising over the next six minutes to cut CHC's lead to single digits 62-55 with 9:12 left and pulled within five some 90 seconds later on a pair of free throws to make the score 64-59.

Chestnut Hill again built the lead back up to double figures with a 9-2 run to lead 73-61 with 4:32 remaining and still led by ten 75-65 following a pair of Haughton free throws with 3:27 left.  Bloomfield then ran off seven straight points to make it a one-possession game with 1:54 left.  Iraldi's three-ball at the 1:28 mark pushed the lead back to six before five straight points from BC's Tyrek Battle-Holley (22 points, 12 rebounds) in the final minute brought the Bears within one 79-77 with 17 seconds left.  Haughton made the second of two free throws with 8.5 seconds left to make the score 79-77 and give the Bears one more chance. 

The Griffins had a foul to give, and they gave it with 4.4 seconds left.  Izaiah Poole drove down the right side for the layup to tie the game but was met by Regan who emphatically blocked the ball out of bounds with just 0.2 left.  All Bloomfield could hope for was a tap-in which did not happen as the Griffins hung on for the win.

Statistically speaking both teams were practically even in most categories except rebounding with the Bears holding a 51-38 margin (17-10 on the offensive glass).  Shooting-wise, CHC was 40.6% from the field (28-69) and BC 41.4% (29-70).  The Griffins did make four more three point baskets (12-8) and had two more assists on the afternoon (17-15) along with two fewer turnovers (10-12).

The Men's Basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, when they host Goldey-Beacom College at Sorgenti Arena.  Tipoff is at 3:00 p.m.