The Chestnut Hill College Men's Basketball team clinched a spot in the upcoming Central Atlantic collegiate conference Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon, despite falling to Jefferson University 91-63 at Sorgenti Arena, giving the Rams a season series sweep of the Griffins.
Despite the loss, the Griffins clinched the spot in the upcoming championship tournament due to Georgian Court University's loss to Goldey-Beacom College. The Griffins are now 8-6 in conference play and 12-12 overall. The Rams are also 8-6 in league play and are in a three-way tie for first place with the Griffins and Goldey-Beacom. Jefferson is now 14-10 overall.
IV Pettit led the Griffins with 29 points while Noah Charles added 15. Charles, Alejandro Redondo Cybak and Neal Hill led the team with seven rebounds apiece. Hill and Charles paced the team with three assists.
Jefferson jumped out to an 18-4 lead just six minutes into the game before the Griffins rebounded with a 18-5 uprising to close within one 23-22 with 8:35 left. Kamal Lee and Omari Salvi had three point baskets during the run while Charles and Pettit added four points apiece. Landon Shivers capped the run with a tip-in. The Ram lead was just three with 4:42 left when the visitors closed out the half with a 9-2 run to lead by ten at the break 41-31.
A layup-and-one from Pettit just 2:02 into the second half cut the deficit to six 45-39 before the Rams pushed the lead back up to double digits. The Griffins later pulled within three 53-50 following another Pettit basket at the 11:46 mark. Jefferson scored the next 13 points to start a 33-8 run to lead by 27, 85-58 with 2:25 left in the game. The visitors increased the margin to 31 before a three-point basket from Zaki Alston provided Chestnut Hill's final points in the 91-63 loss.
Ashton Miller led the Rams with 20 points Sean Fullerton and Jeremiah Dawson had 17 and 16 points, respectively. Justin Hawkins chipped in 14.
The Rams shot 56.7% from the field, making 19 of 32 shots. Chestnut Hill shot 34.8% (23-66). Jefferson also doubled up the Griffins with ten three-point baskets (10-21, 47.6%) to CHC's five (5-23 21.7%). Chestnut Hill had a slight 36-33 rebounding lead but also committed five more turnovers, 13-8.
The men's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, when they host the University of the District of Columbia. The game is a make-up from a postponed game from December 18. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
