SPARKHILL, N.Y. – The University of New Haven men's basketball team (1-1 overall) used a 24-3 run that spanned nine minutes in the second half to pull away from the Mercy Mavericks, earning the Chargers first victory of the season 73-57. Leading the Blue and Gold on the day was senior point guard Danny Upchurch (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Catholic) who finished with career-high in points (22) and rebounds (17), completing his third career double double.

Upchurch's 22 points is the first time this season a Chargers has finished with 20 or more points, while he was one of three players in double figures and two with a double double. Joining him in leading the team was junior Najee Larcher (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) who doubled up for the first time in a Charger uniform, also setting a pair of career-highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Mihailo Vasic (Novi Sad, Serbia) rounded out the Chargers leading scorers with 16 points.

As a team, New Haven combined to shoot 45.3 percent from the field, using a second half shooting average of 57.7 percent to boost the totals for the game. Individually, all three leading scorers shot well with Larcher leading the trio, missing just one of his six field goal attempts. Vasic closed out the contest just behind him, connecting on 5-of-7 field goal attempts, which matches his output from 24 hours earlier. Upchurch rounded out the hot shooters, connecting on 67 percent from the field, making 6-of-9 field goals, with five from outside the three point arc.

Combined, the three leading scorers also fared well at the free throw line where they connected on 17-of-22 total attempts, led by Vasic and Larcher who each secured six points at the line. In addition to the three leading scorers, five other Chargers provided scoring in the victory.

Upchurch and Larcher were the only two Chargers to finish in double figures on the boards as New Haven closed out the game with a 49-37 advantage in rebounding, the second straight game outrebounding their opponent.

FIRST HALF NOTES

·         New Haven would open up the scoring with Vasic scoring on the game's opening possession. After that basket, the Chargers shooting struggled over the next five minutes with just one basket, while the Mavericks were able to open up a seven point lead, 12-5 with 14:45 remaining in the half.  

·         The Chargers defense responded to that deficit by holding Mercy to a single basket over the next six-plus minutes, allowing New Haven to erase the deficit and retake a two-point lead thanks to a three pointer from Upchurch.

·         Following that, the two teams would trade leads for the remaining eight minutes, which also featured five stalemates. The Mavericks would score the final bucket of the half, a three pointer from Kelvin Howard that tied the game at 29.

·         Upchurch led New Haven in the opening period, scoring half of his 22 points with all three of his field goals in the frame coming from outside the three point arc. He also finished 2-of-2 at the free throw line, while pulling down six rebounds.

SECOND HALF NOTES

·         Coming out of the intermission, the teams would end up in a draw twice in the early going before the Mavericks again pulled away, this time extending their lead to six points with 14:32 remaining in the game.

·         This time around, New Haven would answer the deficit by using a 24-3 rally to gain control of the contest and put it out of reach for Mercy. The Chargers would close out that run scoring 13 unanswered points that resulted in the largest lead of the game to that point, a 62-47 advantage made possible by a Vasic Layup.

·         In that final portion of the rally, Upchurch would drain a pair of three pointers, while Vasic scored the final five points on a pair of layups, the first of which he turned into a three point play converting at the line.

·         The Chargers largest lead of the game came in the final minute of action with a pair of free throws from Upchurch providing an 18 point cushion, 73-55.

·         Upchurch would again lead the individual scoring in the half, this time combining for a double double in the 20 minute span with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Overall, he would close out the half without missing a field goal in three attempts.

·         He was one of three players to score in double figures in the second half alone, joined by Larcher and Vasic who each scored 10 points, with Larcher leading the shooting efforts on a perfect 4-of-4.

·         With just a pair of three pointers in the second half, both of which came from Upchurch, 24 of New Haven's points came in the paint as the Chargers finished 13-of-15 (.867) inside the arc.

NEXT ON TAP
The Chargers continue a six-game road trek to open the 2017-18 season with a midweek match-up against the Queens College Knights on Wednesday. Opening tip in the non-conference battle is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Gymnasium in Flushing, N.Y. Fans unable to attend the game can follow the action live online with Live Stats.