WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven men's basketball team picked up its second straight victory on Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Saint Rose Golden Knights 73-54 on Senior Day at Charger Gymnasium. Leading the Blue and Gold on the afternoon was junior Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y./The Hotchkiss School) who finished with 15 points, one of three players in double figures.

Joining Bailey in leading the offense was redshirt sophomore Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) and junior Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) who each chipped in 14 points. Overall, eight different players added to the offense with junior Kessly Felizor (Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown) and freshman point guard Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J. /Trenton Catholic Academy) each adding to the tally with eight points apiece.

Individually, New Haven's shooting success came from Kane whose 14 points came on a 50 percent performance, connecting on half of his 10 field goal attempts. Of his 10 field goals, two came from outside the three point arc, one of four players who all finished with two long range buckets. Kane also led the Blue and Gold's rebounding efforts, hauling in eight boards, part of 35 total for the team.

As a team, the Chargers closed out the game shooting 41.7 percent overall, connecting on 25-of-60 field goal attempts. Eight of the 25 field goals came from outside the arc, while New Haven earned 15 points (in 18 attempts) at the free throw line. The Chargers also led Saint Rose in points off turnovers (13-7) and fast break points (10-4).

New Haven would never trail in the game, opening up the contest with a pair of free throws from Felizor. After Saint Rose matched that with their first field goal of the afternoon, the Chargers scored the next four points and from that point forward never allowed the Golden Knights closer than a one-point deficit.

Saint Rose managed to keep the game within striking distance until just under nine minutes remained in the opening period when New Haven managed its first double digit lead of the afternoon, 23-13. That lead came courtesy of a 5-0 run that included a three pointer from Ross Jones, II and a jump shot from Bailey.

New Haven's largest lead in the first half came following an 8-0 run that led to a 33-17 lead with 3:21 remaining. That rally began with an and-one opportunity from Rowland and was capped off by another three pointer, this time off the fingertips of Kane. Bailey would then close out the half with the Chargers final two buckets for five points and a 38-25 lead at the intermission. He would lead the Chargers at the break with nine points.

Coming out to the locker room, the Chargers quickly gained an 18-point lead, thanks to a pair of free throws from Felizor. From that point on, the Golden Knights could never pull any closer than a 13 points deficit. The visitors would continue to battle, however New Haven opened up its first 20+ lead of the contest with just over four minutes remaining with Rowland capping off what amounted to an 8-0 run with a fast break bucket that resulted in a 64-43 lead.

Coming down the stretch, the Chargers would spread out their scoring with another three pointer from Jones and the final basket of the afternoon, a jumper from Kendall McMillan (Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) which provided the final margin, 73-54.

New Haven will enjoy a week hiatus before returning to the court on Saturday, February 23 with just three more games remaining in the regular season. Next on the docket will be a trip north on interstate 91 for a date with the American International Yellow Jackets. Tip-off from Butova Gymnasium in Springfield is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. following the women's game.