This week, the Chargers had a lighter schedule after grinding through a tough opening stretch, facing the 1–2 University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell River Hawks and the 0–3 Delaware State University Hornets. With both opponents also dealing with early-season struggles, this stretch offered a real opportunity for New Haven to build rhythm, establish confidence and start turning their season in the right direction.
The Chargers earned their first win of the season with a hard-fought 73–67 victory over UMass Lowell, after erasing a seven-point deficit at halftime. The Chargers struggled to find rhythm early but stayed within striking distance as Jabri Fitzpatrick carried the offense with 14 first-half points on his way to a game-high 23, including 2-for-4 from the three-point arc. New Haven completely turned the game around after the break, shooting an impressive 59 percent from the field and scoring 43 second-half points compared to just 30 from the River Hawks.
Andre Pasha played a major role in the comeback and finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals while anchoring a defensive effort that held UMass Lowell to 34 percent shooting in the second half. Najimi George added 17 points and hit a key three-pointer during a momentum-shifting run that helped the Chargers erase the deficit and build a lead they wouldn’t give back. Bench production also proved huge, as Kheni Briggs scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting and gave New Haven a spark during multiple scoring lulls.
Statistically, the Chargers dominated the interior with a 34–22 points-in-the-paint advantage and secured 35 total rebounds, including nine offensive boards that led to 10 second-chance points. Despite the game featuring 15 lead changes and six ties, New Haven maintained composure down the stretch, knocking down free throws and stringing together stops to close out the win. After an 0–3 start, this performance marked a clear step forward, showing both resilience and improved efficiency on both ends of the floor.
For the second game of this week’s slate, New Haven kept its momentum rolling with a 65–52 win over Delaware State, controlling the game on both ends from the opening minutes. The Chargers built a 30–22 halftime lead behind efficient scoring from George, who knocked down three three-point shots to finish the game with 16 points, and another steady all-around performance from Fitzpatrick, who finished with a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds.
New Haven continued to pull away in the second half by shooting over 52 percent from the field and locking in defensively to hold DSU to just 35 percent shooting for the game. Stefano Faloppa added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Pasha anchored the interior with six points, nine rebounds and strong defensive presence that limited the Hornets to only 24 points in the paint. The Chargers also won the rebounding battle 41–26 and got timely scoring from Briggs, who chipped in seven off the bench. Delaware State tried to stay close behind 13 points from James Ponce and 11 from Zion Bethea, but New Haven controlled the pace throughout and closed the game on a composed offensive stretch, securing its second straight win.
After the series of wins, the Chargers have an overall record of 2-3 and look to continue this upwards trend. The Chargers will travel to face the Seton Hall University Pirates on Tuesday. Tip-off is 7 p.m. in South Orange, N.J. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
