For the second time in as many games a contest involving the Chestnut Hill college Men's Basketball team came down to a shot in the final seconds as Wilmington University scored with 7.4 seconds left to eke out a 69-67 win over the Griffins Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex in Newark, Delaware.

The loss dropped the Griffins record to 10-12 overall and 5-7 in Central Atlantic collegiate conference games.  The Wildcats improve to 12-9 overall and 5-6 in league play.

MJ Iraldi came off the bench to lead all scorers with 20 points (6-15 FG, 6-7 FT).  Iraldi also led the team with nine rebounds.  Conor Regan added 12 points (3-7 3FG) while Amir Warrick chipped in ten.  Warrick and Regan also had seven rebounds apiece.  Nigel Haughton led all players with seven assists.

A wild second half saw eight lead changes and five ties as the Wildcats and griffins battled it out.  The Wildcats led 36-32 at the half and scored five of the first seven points to take a 41-34 lead.  Chestnut Hill responded with a 12-0 uprising to go ahead 46-41.  The Wildcats followed with a big run of their own, a 9-0 spurt to retake the lead at 50-46 with 13:40 remaining.  Warrick then started a 7-0 run for CHC which again saw the lead change and the Griffins taking a 53-50 lead.  Wilmington came back and tied the game at 57-57 with 7:41 left with a three-point basket after Iraldi put the Griffins up by three with a pair of free throws.

The Wildcat three-ball started a 9-2 run that would give the hosts a 65-59 lead with 5:28 left in the half.   Iraldi then knocked down a three-point basket to cut the deficit in half 65-62. And added a layup at the 3:57 mark to pull the Griffins within one.  Thirty seconds later Regan sank two free throws to put the Griffins back on top 66-65.  Neither team scored over the next two-plus minutes until WU's Amiri Stewart scored on a fastbreak off a steal to put the Wildcats back on top 67-66.  Iraldi added a free throw to tie the game at 67-67 before the Wildcats turned the ball over, giving the Griffins a chance to go ahead in the final minute.  Haughton's jumper was off the mark and the Wildcats had one more chance and capitalized on it when WU's Randy Rickards  (16 points) laid the ball in with 7.4 seconds. CHC's last chance attempt was unsuccessful and the Wildcats hung on for the win.

Statistically both team's posted nearly identical numbers - Wilmington had one more field goal (27-26) than CHC and one more free throw (9-8) but made one less three pointer (7-6).  The Griffins had a slight edge rebounding 44-42 but it was capitalizing on turnovers that the Wildcats dominated, scoring 20 points off 12 CHC turnovers while the Griffins scored just six off eight WU miscues.

The men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, February 4, 2023 when they host the University of Bridgeport at Sorgenti Arena.  Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.