New Haven Starters: Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy), Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech), Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y. /Elmont Memorial High School ), Majur Majak (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) 

Saint Michael's Starters: Jontai Williams, Patrick Gardner, Jacob Duniver, Nahshon Battle, CJ Crews

How it Happened
It was a slow start for New Haven's offense Saturday afternoon. They started off missing their first five attempts and it wasn't until three minutes in that Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) snuck through the paint and drove into the rim. 

With 8:52 to go in the first half, the Blue and Gold found themselves 12 points under, but despite their .357 shooting percentage from the field, they were able to lock the score at 26 just seconds before the half. Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) was forced to the stripe, making both attempts to bring the Purple Knights and the Chargers at and even score. 

New Haven closed out the half trailing by two, after their biggest threat Patrick Gardner was thrown the ball from Jalen Gorham while in the paint and turned around for a basket as the buzzer sounded. Gardner, who finished with 33 points, closed the half with 13 points going 3-for-5 from outside the arc. 

The Chargers caught up to the Purple Knights yet again coming out of the half with 13:18 remaining with the help of Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy). Then again with 11:50 on the clock Rowland stole the possession away from Nic Button, sprinted to the other end and dunked the ball for New Haven to clench their first lead of the night, 45-44. When all said and done, 34 of New Haven's points were in the paint. 

Rowland finished with 31 points, just one shy of meeting his career-high of 32 set in the 2019-20 season at Adelphi. He shot .571 from the field and was 4-for-10 from three-point range.  

Since their first lead at the 11:50 mark, there were nine lead changes and four occasions where the score was evened out. 

New Haven tremendously improved on their shooting in the second half, which is what allowed them to take the lead out of the hands of Saint Michael's. In the second 20 minutes of action the Chargers went 16-for-32 from the field. 

With slightly more than three minutes reminding New Haven was down two but the Lane-Rowland duo did not disappoint, tying things 60-60. Gardner's free throw set Saint Michael's ahead by one, but Lane and Rowland performed deja vu. From then on, the Purple Knights could not catch up and the Chargers had their first home win of 2022. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) was one-of-two for the Chargers in the double-digits. He was one shy of his career-high of 32 points. Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) finished with ten. 
• Tavin Pierre Philippe (Brooklyn, N.Y./Baldwin High School) shot 50 percent from the field and sunk one three-pointer. 
• Majak and Lane both grabbed eight boards. New Haven out rebounded Saint Michael's 39-33. 
• After starting out shooting 35.7 percent in the first half, the Chargers turned things around in the second improving to 50 percent. 
• Patrick Gardner of the Purple Knights held the game high of 33 points, his second time this season, Gardner averages 18.7 ppg. 

What's Next 
Back on the road, New Haven will venture to Waltham, Mass. to take on Bentley University. The Dana Center will welcome the Chargers Tuesday, Jan. 11 with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m.