Box Score
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Senior Rob Jamerson and freshman Justin Exum combined for 43 points as the University of New Haven men's basketball team topped New York Institute of Technology 65-61 Monday night in a non-conference game at Charger Gymnasium. With the win, the Chargers improved to 5-14 on the season, while the Bears fall to 7-11.
The game featured a quick start from the away team. The Bears raced out to an early lead and even extended the lead to double-figures at the 14:28 mark. However, Jamerson and Exum caught fire in the closing minutes, running off 10 straight points to end the opening stanza. After the rally, the Chargers trailed by just one, 35-34, at the break.
After the intermission, the two teams exchanged a series of rallies throughout the rest of the contest. NYIT bounced out to a quick lead, but had its advantage erased with a 10-5 run from the home team. The Chargers continued to thrive, bursting out on a 15-6 run, grasping a 63-54 lead with just five minutes left in regulation.
The Bears refused to go away, firing back with a 7-0 run over the next four minutes – decreasing their deficit to just two points. Fortunately for the Chargers, their defense buckled down in the final 60 seconds, finalizing a 65-61 final at Charger Gymnasium.
The two teams were very balanced from a statistics standpoint. The Chargers edged the Bears 44 percent to 37 percent shooting during the game and forced two more turnovers than NYIT. The Bears, however, controlled the glass, out-rebounding UNH, 40-37, and connected on one more free-throw and three-pointer than the Chargers.
Jamerson led the Chargers offense with a game-high 23 points, going an efficient 11-of-16 from the floor with eight rebounds. Exum also collected a 20-point performance with 20 points and nine rebounds in the triumph. Jeremy Williams chimed in with 11 and Mike Stys finished with six points.
New Haven returns to conference play on Wednesday, February 2 with an away game against American International College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Springfield, Mass.
