Rivalries are reborn in the postseason with both teams one loss away from elimination, fighting to play another day in the quest for a championship. The regular season standings are an afterthought and all that matters is the opponent in front of you.

The Elm City rivalry is as strong as any and in front of a packed house that reached capacity, the New Haven men’s basketball team fought for a hard-earned 75-59 win over crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Five players finished the game with double-digit points for the Chargers as they advanced to the Northeast-10 (NE-10) semifinals game.

New Haven’s offense came out firing with two three-pointers in the first minute from guard Ty Perry, who finished second on the team with four scores from behind the arc. Perry’s start to the game helped put the Chargers ahead early, taking an eight-point lead just six minutes into the game.

Forward Davontrey Thomas, who finished with a game-high 21 points, put New Haven ahead by 13 after a jumper with seven and a half minutes to play in the first half. SCSU made it a five-point game after a three-pointer from guard Ulyen Coleman as they approached the break.

After a jumper from New Haven guard Quashawn Lane, the Owls made it a one-score game with 44 seconds remaining on a three from guard Logan Bagshaw. As time expired at the end of the half, Lane knocked down a turnaround jumper to double New Haven’s lead.

Forward Majur Majak was a huge contributor for New Haven, finishing the first half with four blocks to help keep the Chargers’ lead in the biggest game of the season. His 3.0 blocks per game ledlead the NE-10 in the regular season, in the middle of a defense that has stood strong for New Haven all season.

SCSU tied the game at 44 after a three from Coleman with 14 minutes remaining in the second half, and then tied it again at 47 after a three from guard Sean James, who reignited the Elm City rivalry, blowing a kiss into the New Haven crowd.

Davontrey Thomas fired right back at James, blowing him a kiss after knocking down a go-ahead three, then following it up with another big shot to make it a six-point game for the Chargers. Thomas dominated down the stretch for New Haven, scoring eight of the team’s next 12 points to put them ahead by 13 to seal the game with 2:28 left to play.

Guard Victor Olawoye ended the scoring for New Haven with a layup to make it a 75-59 game, a score that would hold to the buzzer, giving the Chargers a berth to the NE-10 semifinals round, where they will take on number one seeded Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 1 as New Haven’s run for a conference title continues against the best team in the conference. More information about the game can be found at NewHavenChargers.com.