WEST HAVEN, Conn – The University of New Haven men's basketball team took No. 12 Le Moyne down to the wire, dropping a 78-70 decision to the Dolphins, evening their Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division record to 3-3, while dropping to 5-5 on the season. Leading the Chargers on the day was junior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) who finished with 13 points while not missing a field goal attempt (5-of-5).

Felizor was one of two Chargers in double figures with senior Danny Upchurch (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Catholic) leading the squad with 14 points overall. Three of his five field goals came from outside the arc, while he also added one free throw. Overall, all nine players who saw time for New Haven finished with at least two points. Rounding out the leaders behind Upchurch and Felizor was sophomore Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) who added nine and sophomore Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) and senior Joseph Doganiero (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) each chipping in eight points.

As a team, New Haven closed out the game shooting 56.3 percent from the field, which included a scorching 71.4 percent in the opening half as the Chargers connected on 15-of-21 attempts. Included in the 15 first half field goals were five from outside the arc, while the Blue and Gold added six more in the second half, tying their season-high of 11 total for the game.

The Chargers also trailed in the battle of the boards with a 27-25 advantage overall. Four different players led the way for New Haven as Upchurch, Felizor and Rowland all pulling down five boards. Upchurch also led the Chargers with eight assists, while Rowland dished out three.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·         After scoring the opening bucket of the game, the Chargers would maintain an advantage for over five minutes in the early going before a three pointer from Le Moyne's Isaiah Eisendorf followed by a layup from Eisendorf provided the first lead chance of the afternoon.

·         New Haven quickly responded with back-to-back baskets of their own, a three pointer from Kane and a layup from Hunt, regaining a three-point advantage.

·         Following a free throw from Rowland, the Dolphins drilled back-to-back three pointers to take their largest lead in the opening half, five, with 8:39 remaining.

·         Over the next four minutes, the teams would end up in a stalemate on four occasions before the Chargers scored nine of the final 12 points of the half to take a 37-31 lead into the intermission.

·         New Haven finished the opening half with an impressive 71.4 percent from the field, making 15 field goals in 21 attempts with five of those field goals from outside the arc. Felizor and Rowland each led New Haven in the first half with eight points, while Upchurch chipped in 10. Both Upchurch and Rowland finished with a pair of three pointers in the first half.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

·         New Haven came out of the break to score the first points on a tip-in from Vasic before the Dolphins got hot, scoring eight straight to tie the game at 39 less than two minutes into the action.

·         Upchurch broke up that Le Moyne momentum with a three pointer, however the Dolphins would respond again, opening up a 49-45 lead with 13:08 remaining.

·         This time around, Tommy Hunt (Smithfield, R.I./St. Andrew's) answered that rally with a three pointer, however New Haven would never lead again. The Chargers would muster to tie the game on two more occasions, both of those instances coming on three pointers. The first from Doganiero tied the game at 56, while a three pointer from Rowland knotted the game at 59.

·         Late in the frame, the Chargers looked to tie the game on a three pointer from Doganiero, but the attempt was off the mark. On the other end, the Dolphins responded with a three pointer and perfect trip to the line, all of Anthony Richards, to cement the victory and remain undefeated in NE10 action.

·         The Charger scoring in the second half came on a balanced attack as all nine players would finish with at least one point, led by Upchurch with seven points. Kane followed with six.

UP NEXT
New Haven will play its final game in the 2016 calendar year on Wednesday evening when they host East Region rival LIU Post at Charger Gymnasium. Tip off in the final game before the holiday break is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's team.