The New Haven Chargers men’s basketball team came within a few clutch plays of toppling the Boston College Eagles over the weekend. The Eagles mounted a second-half comeback and held on for a 67-63 victory at Conte Forum.
New Haven soared out of the gate, seizing control early and riding a 33-23 halftime lead from their fierce defense and efficient scoring. The Chargers appeared to have Boston College’s number, as crisp ball movement, few turnovers and aggressive rebounding set the tone.
Senior guard Jabri Fitzpatrick led the squad with 16 points, while forward Stefano Faloppa came close to a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Guard Najimi George added 14 points, and center Andre Pasha chipped in 13, a balanced attack that kept the Chargers competitive throughout. New Haven made 20 free throws out of 24 attempts, shooting an impressive 83 percent on the night.
But, Boston College’s second half was an aggressive force. Guard Donald Hand Jr. nailed a three-pointer with 8:34 left to give the Eagles their first lead of the game, 48–46. This momentum never swung back to New Haven. Reserve Fred Payne spearheaded the Eagles’ late-game surge, finishing with 18 points, while Hand Jr. scored the bulk of Boston College’s final points. He had a clutch jumper and shot 5-for-6 from the foul line over the last 53 seconds to seal the four-point win.
Besides the leading scorers, two other Chargers were able to put points up for New Haven. Guard Maison Adeleye had eight points and finished shooting 4-for-6 from the field. Adeleye tallied three steals, two rebounds and two assists. Guard Kheni Briggs had two points and one rebound.
As a team, the Chargers had 31 rebounds, nine assists, nine steals and two blocks. New Haven committed 19 personal fouls and 10 turnovers.
The loss ends New Haven’s three-game winning streak, but the Chargers showed determination in their first-ever meeting with the Eagles. They battled through the final minutes, trimmed the lead and forced strategic decisions, until Boston College’s composure under pressure proved decisive.
The Chargers now have an overall record of 5-5 which keeps them at .500 early in the season. The performance may serve as a benchmark for the first Division I campaign under longtime head coach Ted Hotaling.
The Chargers will be back in action Wednesday as they face the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Highlanders. Tip-off is 7 p.m. in Newark, N.J. For more information visit NewHavenChargers.com or tune in on the NEC Front Row app.
