The men’s basketball team dropped two NEC games last week against the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks and the Chicago State University Cougars.
In the matchup against the Sharks, the Chargers lost 60-55. New Haven struggled early against LIU and put up 16 points in the first half. The Chargers shot 25.9% from the field over the opening 20 minutes and went 0-for-11 from three-point range, digging themselves into a 29–16 halftime deficit.
Offensive execution was limited, and LIU controlled the pace behind its physical play in the paint. The Sharks’ size advantage and aggressive rebounding created second-chance opportunities that the Chargers were unable to counter in the first half.
The Chargers responded with a strong second half and put together one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season. New Haven shot 65.2% from the floor after the break and knocked down 66.7% of their three-point attempts. Jabri Fitzpatrick led the charge with a team-high 17 points and five rebounds, while Andre Pasha and Najimi George each added 14 points. New Haven outscored LIU 39–31 in the second half and trimmed the deficit to just two points in the final minutes.
Despite the surge, the Chargers were unable to complete the comeback. LIU capitalized at the free-throw line late and finished with a decisive rebounding advantage, 39–27. Malachi Davis led the Sharks with 18 points, and Jamal Fuller contributed 13, which helped LIU secure the five-point win.
In their return to the home court, the Chargers looked to bounce back against Chicago State but fell short, 63-57. The Cougars shot 50% in the first half and built a 32–22 lead at the break. New Haven struggled to find offensive consistency early but showed improvement in the second half, particularly from beyond the arc.
Fitzpatrick continued his strong play, leading New Haven with 14 points while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range. Pasha followed with 13 points and four assists, and George chipped in 11 points along with four assists. The Chargers finished the game shooting 39.3% from the three-point arc and steadily cut into the deficit, pulling within two points in the final minute.
Chicago State, however, closed the game at the free-throw line. Marcus Tankersley paced the Cougars with 19 points, and Doyel Cockrill III added 12 off the bench. The Cougars received a significant boost from its reserves, outscoring New Haven 28–6 in bench points and converting 12-for-15 free-throw shots compared to 8-for-12 for the Chargers.
With the losses, New Haven drops to 10–14 overall and 5–6 in the NEC. The Chargers will be back in action on Thursday when they host their cross-town rivals, the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Blue devils for a conference game. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in the Hazell Center and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. For more information about the men’s basketball team, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
