Skipjacks Erase Double-Digit Deficit At Halftime, Upset No. 15 Bryant & Stratton (VA) To Close Out Fall Schedule

The Chesapeake College men's basketball program closed out their fall schedule on Monday afternoon, December 19^th, hosting Bryant & Stratton (VA) in Skipjack Arena. The visiting Bobcats entered the matchup riding a 7-game winning streak and sitting at the #15 spot in the NJCAA Division II week 6 rankings. Meanwhile the Skipjacks brought a three-game win streak of their own into the contest looking to defend their home court. Chesapeake rallied in the second half to upset the Bobcats, 73-68, and head into the winter break on a high note. 

The Skipjacks struggled offensively coming out of the opening tip, managing a season low in first-half scoring with just 27 points while the Bobcats put up 37 to send Chesapeake into the locker room down 10. Bryant & Stratton led by as many as 13 points during the half while Chesapeake fought to get the lid off the basket, connecting on just 29% (10/34) from the floor and 19% (3/16) from deep. Lamont Powell and Justin DeMaria led Chesapeake in scoring at the break with 8 points apiece.

After nearly three minutes of scoreless action to begin the second half, the Skipjacks flipped the switch on offense, piecing together a 25-8 run over 6 minutes to claim a 52-45 lead with 9:25 to go. The Bobcats threatened to reclaim the lead but Chesapeake capitalized on their mistakes, increasing their lead to as much as 9 with under 5 to play.

Chesapeake did enough defensively down the stretch to keep Bryant & Stratton out of reach while doing their part from the free throw line, hitting 9 of 10 attempts from the charity stripe to close out the win, 73-68. Skipjacks Sophomore JayShaun Freeman recorded all 14 of his points in the second half, 9 of which came from free throws. Freeman finished 9 of 11 from the stripe on the evening.

The Skipjacks improved on their shooting performance form the first half, hitting nearly 47% from the floor which was led by a 7 for 10 line from Justin DeMaria who finished as Chesapeake's leading scorer with 19 points. Powell (15) and Freeman (14) also finished in double digits for the Skipjacks in the upset win. 

With the victory, Chesapeake improved to 9-3 on the year as they enter the winter break. The Skipjacks return to action in the new year on Saturday, January 7^th at Essex County to open up a five-game road stretch to begin the second half of their season.