WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Junior Mihailo Vasic (Novi Sad, Serbia) finished with a game-high 24 points for the second straight game, leading the New Haven men's basketball team (13-12 overall, 8-10 NE10) in a 79-68 win over crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday night. With the win, Ted Hotaling earned his 100th career-victory at New Haven, while the Chargers secured a berth in the Northeast-10 Championship which begins next week.

Vasic's 24 points, which tied his career-high set last game against Adelphi, came on an efficient 9-of-12 effort from the field while also finishing a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Vasic was one of four Chargers to finish in double figures with sophomore Michael Bourke (South Orange, N.J./The Hun School of Princeton) (14), junior Danny Upchurch (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Catholic) (12) and freshman Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) (11) all joining in leading the Chargers.

Rookie Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) also finished two points shy of his team-leading eighth double double as he closed out the night with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while also adding a game-high and career-high five assists. As a team, the Chargers finished with 39 total rebounds as all but one of the nine Chargers who saw time pulled in at least one board.

New Haven combined to shoot an even 50-percent on the night, making 29-of-58 field goal attempts. Included among the 29 total field goals were eight three point baskets with Bourke and Kane finishing with three each. The Chargers also combined to close out the night making 13-of-18 attempts from the free throw line.

FIRST HALF NOTES

·         After trading leads on the first two baskets of the game, the Owls went on to take their largest lead in the first half using back-to-back three pointers that resulted in a 7-2 lead. The Chargers answered with a three pointer of their own off the fingertips of Bourke thanks to a feed from Kane.

·         The teams would seesaw through the first 10 minutes of the half before the Chargers put together a 13-4 run that spanned nearly five minutes with the Blue and Gold making 4-of-6 field goal attempts, including both three point attempts during the stretch. That rally for New Haven resulted in a 32-28 lead for the home team, their largest to that point.

·         The Owls battled back to tie the game at 32 before New Haven put together another run, closing out the half on a 12-6 scamper that gave the Chargers a 44-38 lead at the intermission. Beginning that rally was a three pointer from Upchurch, while Vasic netted six straight and Felizor put a statement on the end of the half with a dunk and converting a free throw for the old fashioned three point play.

·         The Chargers defense then held the Owls without a bucket on the final possession of the half as a three pointer from Toby Christensen careened off the front of the iron.

·         Leading the Chargers in the opening half was Vasic who finished with a quiet 16 points, making 6-of-9 field goal attempts and converting all four trips to the free throw line. He was joined in double figures by Upchurch who chipped in 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a pair of three pointers and also finished perfect at the line in two attempts.

·         As a team, New Haven closed out the first half shooting 48.5 percent on 16-of-33 including four three pointers and made all but one of their nine attempts from the free throw line. The Chargers also combined for 19 rebounds, led by Felizor and Vasic who finished with six and five, respectively.

SECOND HALF NOTES

·         The Chargers came out of the intermission and scored the first bucket of the half on a layup from Upchurch and went on to open up the first double digit advantage of the night with under three minutes played and Felizor followed up a Kane three pointer to give the Blue and Gold a 53-43 lead.

·         The Chargers would extend that lead to as much as 13 as Kane drained another three pointer to cap off an 8-0 run for New Haven.

·         Southern continued to battle, chipping at New Haven lead and eventually regain a slim one point lead thanks to a 13-2 run that spanned 4:36. The Chargers responded by rattling off the next five straight points all of which came from Bourke as he went 2-2 at the line and drained a three pointer in the corner off a Felizor feed.

·         That lead change courtesy of Bourke proved to be the last of the game as the Chargers outscored Southern Connecticut 18-6 over the final 8:41, holding the Owls to just three field goals in 11 attempts, including an 0-of-4 effort from beyond the arc and forcing three turnovers in that span.

·         Vasic would put the exclamation point on the victory when he laid in his 24th point of the night with 58 seconds remaining on a fast break thanks to Felizor who pulled down a rebound and provided the court length outlet to a wide open Vasic.

·         Seven different players provided offense in the second half for New Haven with Bourke and Vasic each leading the way with eight points. Vasic's eight second half points came on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 at the free throw line.

·         Felizor also provided a quality second half for the Chargers as he finished with eight rebounds and three assists to go along with five points that came on a 2-of-2 performance from the field.

·         As a team, the Chargers finished the second half shooting 52 percent overall with 13 field goals in 25 attempts including four from outside the arc.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·         The victory for New Haven was a milestone victory for seventh year head coach Ted Hotaling who secured his 100th career victory at the helm. Hotaling becomes the fourth coach in program history with 100 career victories, and can move into third place all-time and pass Don Burns (1967-75) with two more.

·         The 50 percent shooting effort (29-of-58) for the Chargers is the fifth time this season they have shot 50 percent or better in a single game. It is also the third time in NE10 play and the first time since the buzzer beater victory over Northeast Division leader Southern New Hampshire on January 21.

·         The 24 points for junior Vasic is his third game of the season with 20 or more and the second straight game he has scored 24 points. Over the last two games, Vasic is a combined 20-of-27 from the field, an impressive 74.1 percent. He is also a perfect 12-of-12 at the line over the last three games.

·         Upchurch has also stepped up his game over the last two outings, finishing with 15 and 12 points, respectively, his 20th and 21st games of the season in double figures. Over the last two games, Upchurch is shooting 57.9 percent from the field on 11-of-19.

NEXT ON TAP
The Chargers will close out the regular season with its final two games on the road, first visiting the Pace Setters on Saturday, February 18. Tip off as the Chargers look for the season sweep against the Setters is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. following the women's game.