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 Anselm Starters: Tyler Arbuckle, Chris Paul, Owen McGlashan, Miles Tention, Gustav Suhr-Jessen

How it Happened 
After being eliminated by Saint Anselm in the Northeast-10 conference tournament this season and last, as well as the NCAA Division II East Region Semifinals in 2019, the Chargers got the redemption they were looking for. 

"Familiarity always helps in this situation," said head coach Ted Hotaling following the 78-70 win. "We had a few adjustments that we made, just some tendencies. We are who we are, and we are a very good defensive team."

With 8:03 on the clock left until the halftime break, Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) broke the 21-21 tie with a layup through the paint. From that point on the Chargers never looked back, securing a lead that was once as large as 14 points all the way to the final buzzer. 

For the Blue and Gold, this was their third time taking on the Hawks this season, who were lead by none other than Chris Paul. Both teams took the same court once in the regular season at Saint Anselm, then again in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship quarterfinals. In West Haven, Paul scored 40 points to help Saint Anselm knock the Chargers out of the running for a conference title. 

However, in the NCAA Division II East Regional quarterfinals, New Haven's defense coordinated their strategy around the familiar shooter, limiting him to 24 points.  

"We did a better job with Chris Paul at the wings getting him to the middle, and then getting the ball in his right hand. Just small adjustments and tendencies," Hotaling said. "Chris Paul is a really hard player to guard." 



In the last go around, Paul had attempted 27 baskets, but New Haven's change up on defense only allotted him to attempt 11 shots.

With 1:32 to go until halftime, the Chargers took their largest lead of the game up to that point: six points, 36-30. Lane drove through the paint to lay one off the glass after Gustav Suhr-Jessen turned the ball over; throughout the season the Hawks forced 13.5 turnovers per game. 

Antonio Lopez (Medford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) committed two fouls to close out the half, sending Tyler Arbuckle to the stripe twice, where he went 3-for-4 to put the Hawks behind only three, 36-33. Lopez had been charged with four personal fouls in only 8:14 of action in the first twenty minutes. He later fouled out of the game with 14:26 to go in the game. 

With less than three minutes to go, the Chargers took their first lead by double-digits, which was surely the turning point of this game. Arbuckle went to make a jumper, but his shot was deflected by the rim and fell into the hands of Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y. /Elmont Memorial High School ). Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) was open at the three-point line on the left wing, he received the pass from Olawoye and stepped into a three. The Chargers, now lead by 12 and momentum flooded the bench. 

New Haven grasped their double-digit lead up until the final nine seconds when Miles Tention made a pull up three. Still, the buzzer sounded down with the ball in the hands of Philippe, and the score board reading 78-70 in favor of the sixth-seeded Chargers.

Inside the Box Score 

• Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy), for the tenth time this season led the Chargers in scoring tallying 19 points from six two-point field goals and a 7-9 performance at the stripe. 
• Tavin Pierre Philippe (Brooklyn, N.Y./Baldwin High School) was a point behind Lane, scoring 18. He went 2-for-3 from three-point range.
• Both Lane and Philippe led New Haven in the NE10 Championship quarterfinals with 22 and 20 points each, respectively. 
• All in all, the Blue and Gold had four players with double-digit scoring. On top of Lane and Philippe, Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y./Green Tech) put up 12 and Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y. /Elmont Memorial High School ) had 13. 
• New Haven, who averages 12.7 turnovers per contest, committed seven in the quarterfinals; Their lowest since their 60-67 defeat to Saint Anselm in the regular season. 
• The Chargers shot 42.6 percent from the field, whereas Saint Anselm was limited to a 40.9 field performance. 
• Saint Anselm out-rebounded the Chargers, 38-32. Both teams grabbed 38 boards in the conference quarterfinals on Feb. 28. 

What's Next 
The semifinals of the East Region Championship will take place on Sunday, Mar. 13. The Chargers will be facing No. 7 Saint Thomas Aquinas. In their quarterfinal, the Spartans rallied in the second half, despite being down 13 at the half. Demetre Roberts lifted the Spartans to outscore Franklin Pierce 50-30 in the second half, knocking off the second seeded Ravens from tournament play. 

Tip off for the semifinal matchup is set for 5:00 p.m. at the Dana Center in Waltham, Mass.