Nigel Haughton led three Chestnut Hill College Men's Basketball players in double figures as they defeated the University of Bridgeport 87-81 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Sorgenti Arena.

The win snapped the Griffins four-game losing streak as the team improves to 11-12 overall and 6-7 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games.  The Purple Knights fall to 10-12 overall and 6-8 in league play.

Haughton connected on seven of ten shots from the field, including two of three in the overtime period to finish with a team high 20 points.  The junior guard also had seven rebounds and four assists.  Trevonn Pitts added 13 points (5-8 FG) while Conor Regan chipped in 11 (5-9 FG) and dished out four assists.   Noah Charles led the team with ten rebounds and five assists.

Bridgeport rallied from a four-point deficit with 1:18 left in regulation to force overtime.  The two teams exchanged baskets in the opening minute before a traditional three-point play from Pitts put the Griffins up by three 79-76.  The Purple Knights scored two baskets to take a brief 80-79 led before Pitts again scored, starting what would be an 8-1 run to close out the game and give the Griffins the six-point win.   CHC was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 26 seconds, allowing the team to secure the victory.

The game saw a total of 13 lead changes, most of these coming late in the game and the overtime.  The first however came late in the first half as the Purple Knights used a 21-9 run to erase an 11-point Griffin lead to take their first lead of the game 38-37 with 2:16 left.  The Griffins retook the lead as the two teams broke for halftime,41-40.

The Purple Knights then went an opened a nine-point lead 60-51 with 10:22 left in regulation.  The CHC offense countered by making seven of their next eight shots, four of those three-point buckets, completing a 19-6 uprising and taking a four-point lead with 4:14 left.  The lead was still four when the Purple Knights rallied to tie, scoring the final four points of regulation, sending the game into overtime.   

Ali Sumareh led the Purple Knights with 29 points (14-18 FG) and 11 rebounds.  Mason Williams added 21 points.

Chestnut Hill finished the game shooting 50% overall (32-64) and 40.9% from beyond the arc (9-22).  Bridgeport made 35-77 shots (45.5%) from the field and was just 7-for-30 (23.3%) from the field.  Where the Griffins dominated was at the free throw line, making 14 of 22 shots (63.6%) while the Purple knights struggled, making just four of 12 (33.3%).  UB held a big 47-34 rebounding advantage including a 16-6 edge on the offensive glass., outscoring CHC 20-8 in the second chance points category.

The Men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 when they host Cheyney University at Sorgenti Arena.  Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.