PHOTO GALLERY
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – One of seven seniors honored prior to the game, Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial High School) led New Haven with 15 points and five assists in a 62-54 win over the visiting American International Yellow Jackets to snap a three-game skid. With the victory, New Haven improves to 14-7 overall and 11-5 in the Northeast-10.
Prior to the game, New Haven honored the seven senior players who will played in their final weekend regular season game at Charger Gymnasium. In addition to Olawoye, New Haven honored Adriel Gill (Meriden, Conn./Platt), Andre Francis (Hartford, Conn./The Master's School), Ty Perry (Boston, Mass./Brighton), Kendall McMillan (Columbia, Md./Mount Saint Joseph), Majur Majak (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./) and Quashawn Lane (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy).
Joining Olawoye in leading the Chargers was fellow honoree Lane who finished with 14 points. Both Lane and Olawoye closed out the game shooting 4-of-6 from the field, with a pair of Olawoye's field goals from outside the three point arc. He was also 5-of-6 at the free throw line, while Lane was 6-of-8 at the stripe. Majak and junior Davontrey Thomas (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) each added 11 points to round out four in double figures, while Majak hauled in a game-high 17 rebounds.
As a team, New Haven finished the game shooting 43.5 percent from the field, connecting on 20-of-46 field goal attempts. Included in the 20 buckets were eight from outside the three point arc, while the Chargers added 14 points at the free throw line, those coming on 18 attempts.
New Haven will close out a three-game homestand on Tuesday night when they welcome the Saint Michael's Purple Knights to Charger Gymnasium. Opening tip in the NE10 battle is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with all of the action available on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW.
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
· It took more than five minutes before New Haven would get its first field goal of the game, that coming on a three pointer from Justin Hendrick (Valley Stream, N.Y./St. Francis) that tied the score at five.
· After opening up to five point lead, the Yellow Jackets and Chargers would go back and forth for the next three minutes with three tie scores until the midway point of the half.
· The Chargers would answer a 12-12 stalemate with seven straight to take a 19-12 lead and never trailed the remainder of the first half.
· The largest lead for New Haven came with 6:39 remaining before the break thanks to a Victor Olawoye (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial High School) three pointer that provided a 22-14 lead.
· AIC quickly answered with six straight to cut that lead to two, but New Haven wasn't going to relinquish its lead, building it back to six, 27-21, in the final four minute of the frame.
· The Yellow Jackets would get the final word in the half with a three pointer as time expired that put New Haven's lead at the break 29-27.
· Six different players provided the first half scoring in a balanced attack for the Chargers, with eight points from Olawoye leading the team as he finished the half 3-of-4 from the field, including a pair of three pointers in three attempts. Majur Majak (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./) followed with six points.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
· Coming out of the intermission, New Haven would get the first word with a dunk from Majak the first points of the half. The Chargers would go on to build their lead back to six before the Yellow Jackets mustered their first points on a three pointer to cut that lead in half.
· The Yellow Jackets would keep the game within striking distance the first 10 minutes of the second half as it wasn't until the midway point when New Haven began a 14-3 run that regained a double digit lead, 56-42.
· The first eight points in that run all came unanswered with Lane, Olawoye and Majak all combining to score in that stretch. After a three from the Yellow Jackets, the Chargers would score another six unanswered, this time with all six from beyond the arc off the hands of Thomas.
· AIC managed to cut its deficit back into since digits with two minutes to play, but New Haven regained a 13 point lead with 61 seconds remaining and the Chargers securing the victory going 5-of-8 from the free throw line down the stretch.
