Neal Hill broke his own record for rebounds in a game Tuesday night as the Chestnut Hill College Men's Basketball team held off a solid Wilmington University squad, 83-73 at Sorgenti Arena.
The Griffins improve to 9-10 overall with the win and 5-4 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games. Wilmington falls to 5-15 overall and 3-5 in league play.
Hill grabbed 22 rebounds in the contest, breaking his own record of 21 set just over a month ago against Molloy University on December 21. His 22-rebound performance marked the third time this season he has grabbed 20 or more rebounds in a game, the only player in NCAA (all divisions) this season to have three games with 20 or more rebounds. Hill's 242 rebounds on the season ranked second in the NCAA while his 12.7 rebounds/game average is fourth.
IV Pettit led all scorers with 21 points (13-17 FT), all in the second half while Alejandro Redondo Cybak recorded his fifth double-double of the season and second in the last three games with 18 points and ten rebounds. Omari Salvi added 14 points and Noah Charles scored 12 while dishing out five assists. Hill led the team with six assists two blocks and two steals.
The Griffins scored the first nine points of the game and jumped out to a 16-6 lead before a 13-2 run by the Wildcats gave the visitors a 19-18 advantage with 6:24 left in the first half. Tommy Gardler's layup on CHC's next possession put the Griffins back on top and their lead fluctuated between one and five points for the remainder of the half, with Chestnut Hill clinging to a one point lead 29-28 at halftime.
The Wildcats made six of their first nine shots in the second half to take a three point lead 41-38 with 14:54 left. Cybak's three-point basket on the Griffins next possession tied the game up and Gardler followed with a three-point bucket after a WU free throw to put the Griffins ahead 44-42 with 13:44 left. After the Wildcats knotted the score again, the Griffins went on a 16-5 run to take a double digit lead, 60-49 with 7:23 left. The Wildcats would get no closer than six the rest of the way as the Griffin's sealed the deal making 11 of 14 free throws over the final 1:07 (Pettit- 5, Charles- 4) to take home the ten point win.
For the game, the Griffins shot 37.3% (25-67) from the field. The Wildcats meanwhile made three more total field goals and shot 45.9% (28-61). Chestnut Hill however, connected on nine three-point baskets to Wilmington's two and made 24 of 31 free throws (77.4%) to WU's 15-21 (71.4%) Chestnut Hill dominated the rebounding game, 49-31. Including a 16-4 effort on the offensive glass.
The men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, February 1 as they travel to Rutherford, new Jersey to take on the Felician University Golden Falcons in a CACC crossover contest. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
