The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team played their best game of the season as they earned the first victory of the 2023-24 campaign, defeating area rival Jefferson University 70-59 Saturday afternoon at Sorgenti Arena.

The Griffins even their record to 1-1 in Central Atlantic collegiate conference games with their first win of the season and are now 1-7 overall.  The Rams fall to 3-65 overall and 0-1 in league play. 

Four Griffins reached double figures in scoring to pace the Chestnut Hill offense, while their defense was holding the Rams to their lowest point total in 33 games, dating back to November 19, 2022, when they scored just 43 points in a loss to Winston Salem State at the Harlem Renaissance Classic in New York City.

Noah Charles led the Griffins, scoring 20 points (7-11 FG, 5-6 FT).  Argel Petit IV added 19 points (5-9 FG, 7-8 FT).  Alejando Redondo Cybak had 14 points and recorded a double-double on the afternoon with 13 rebounds (seven on the offensive glass.).  Adam Angwafo came off the bench to round out the double figure scorers for CHC, notching 11 points.  He also grabbed six rebounds.  Cybak led the team with four assists.

The Rams held an eight point lead with 5:53 left in the first half before the Griffins defense turned it up a couple of notches, holding the Rams scoreless in eight of their final nine possessions while the CHC offense produced a 12-2 run to take a 28-26 lead at halftime.

The Griffins scored the first six points of the second half to push the lead to eight, 34-26.  However, the Rams countered with a 16-7 spurt over a 5:30 span to reclaim the lead 42-41.  Jefferson increased their lead to five 48-43 midway through the half before the CHC defense again went to work while the offense started to dominate.

Chestnut Hill exploded for 16 straight points over the next 5:15 to take their first double-digit lead of the contest, 59-48 with 4:40 remaining.  Pettit scored nine of the 16 points while Charles had five during the run.  A key play in the run was a technical foul given to a Jefferson player following a Griffins player committing a foul of his own at the 6:39 mark.  Pettit made two free throws to extend the run to 10 straight points at the time. 

Jefferson finally broke the run with two free throws at the 3:33 mark, but it wasn't until the 2:48 mark that they made their first field goal in a seven-minute stretch, cutting the Griffins' lead to six 59-53.  Ahmed Barba-Bey's layup with 1:59 remaining brought the Rams within four, 61-57.   On The Griffins' next possession, Cybak tipped in a basket following a Charles miss and was fouled.  He then completed the and-one, and the Griffins were back up by seven.  The Griffins calmly sank six of eight free throws in the final 1:15 to seal the win.

Barba-Bey led the Rams with 17 points while Erik Timko added 14. Antonin Kemkeng had 11 rebounds.

The Griffins produced a big advantage on the free throw line, outscoring the rams 21-5, making 21 of 27 shots (77.8%) while Jefferson connected on five of six (83.3%).  The Griffins were also very efficient from three point range, making seven of 12 (58.3%) on the afternoon.  (Jefferson was 6-29, 20.7%).  Chestnut Hill outrebounded Jefferson 37-31 while the Rams had five fewer turnovers (9-14).

The men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, December 9, 2023, with a game at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.  Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m.