WATERBURY, Conn. – Sophomore Tommy Hunt (Smithfield, R.I./St. Andrew's) was hot from outside the three point arc, finishing with a career-high 20 points, but the Post Eagles capitalized at the free throw line down the stretch to secure a 73-67 win over New Haven on Sunday. With the loss, New Haven falls to 4-6 overall.
Joining Hunt in leading the Chargers was redshirt freshman Michael Bourke (South Orange, N.J./The Hun School of Princeton) who finished with 21 points, his fourth-straight game with 20 or more points. Rounding out the leading scorers was Levy Gillespie (Meriden, Conn./Capital Preparatory Magnet) who finished with 11.
As a team, New Haven finished the game shooting 46.8 percent with Hunt leading all Chargers making all but two of his nine field goal attempts. Included in his seven buckets were a career-high six from beyond the three point arc. Bourke closed out the game making 5-of-12 from the field, while he also was 9-of-10 at the free throw line.
The Chargers and Eagles finished in a deadlock in the rebounding battle, each finishing with 30 boards. Leading the way individually for New Haven was senior Joshua Guddemi (Nottingham, England/Derby) who pulled in seven.
The Chargers opened up the game on a 6-0 run before the Eagles got on the board with a pair of free throws. Three different Chargers got in on the early action with Hunt opening up the game with a jumper on New Haven's first possession. Bourke added a pair of free throws, while senior Samir McDaniels (Roxbury, Mass./New Mission) drove the baseline for a pair.
New Haven opened up its first double digit lead as part of a 12-2 run with a three pointer from Hunt providing a 21-9 lead. That three pointer gave Hunt five points for the game, while Gillespie also put up five points in that run on a three pointer and a tip in.
After that run provided the largest lead to that point for New Haven, 23-9, the Eagles began a rally that resulted in 11 unanswered points and pulled Post within three at 23-20. Bourke would break that run and what was a six minute scoring drought for the Chargers with a drive through the lane for two.
After regaining a six point lead, 28-22, on a jumper from Bourke, the Eagles began another rally, this time seven unanswered that resulted in the first lead change of the afternoon at 28-29 thanks to a three pointer from Tamas Okros. New Haven answered by scoring the last four points of the half to take a 32-29 lead into the locker room. Those two buckets came on a drive through the lane from Gillespie and a jumper, with a toe on the arc, with three seconds remaining from Guddemi.
Leading the Chargers at the intermission was Bourke who put up nine points on 3-of-6 shooting, including a three pointer, and 2-of-3 at the free throw line. He also dished out a pair of assists and pulled down two rebounds. Gillespie followed him with seven points, while six total players were in on the first half scoring. As a team, New Haven hit 52 percent of their shots, 13-of-25, including making 3-of-10 from beyond the three point arc. The Chargers also led the battle of the boards with a 17-12 advantage, led by McDaniels with five boards.
Back-to-back layups early in the second half provided the Eagles second lead of the game, however New Haven answered with back-to-back three pointers from Hunt that regained a 42-37 lead for the Chargers.
Post responded to those two three pointers by rattling off 10 unanswered points to open up a five point, 42-47, lead. Hunt would strike from long range again to break that momentum and pull the Chargers within two with 11:16 remaining. Hunt would hit again just over a minute later, this time making it a one point game, 51-50, with 9:55 remaining.
After a pair of free throws from Najee Larcher (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) again made it a one point game, 61-60, the Eagles responded by scoring the next five to make it a six point game. Bourke answered that deficit with a big four point play as he drained a three pointer and was fouled on the play, pulling New Haven to a one possession game, 66-64.
Despite another three pointer from Hunt in the final 30 seconds, Post would convert at the free throw line to secure the victory.
The Chargers close out the calendar year on Wednesday, December 30 when they host East Stroudsburg int he final non-conference game of the season. Tip off against Warriors is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Charger Gym. Complete coverage of Charger men's basketball can be found at www.NewHavenChargers.com.
