Late Push Not Enough as Skipjacks Fall to Lackawanna

The Chesapeake College men's basketball team returned to Skipjack Arena on Saturday, November 11^th in search of their first win of the season against visiting Lackawanna College. Despite mounting a second half comeback push with a chance to take a late lead, the Skipjacks came up on the losing side of a 72-70 battle which drops the program to 0-4 on the year.

Other than the first few minutes following traded baskets, the Skipjacks played from behind for the remainder of the contest. The Falcons found success early in getting to the basket, scoring on several inside layups as they shot a highly efficient 52% from the floor in the first half to take the largest lead of the game, 30-16, at the 8:28 mark. The Skipjacks managed to keep within reach as the team kept the rebound battle close, 17-19 at the break, and even won the turnover margin in the first half with 6 compared to Lackawanna's 8. The issues came from Chesapeake's inability to connect on their shots as they went 12 for 37 from the floor while attempting to match the Falcons shooting performance.

The Skipjacks managed to cut into the Falcons lead a bit before halftime as they went into the locker room down, 40-31. Chesapeake's Andre Stewart was the team's leading scorer at the break with 12 points, grabbing 3 boards and picking up 2 steals along the way. Josh Rivers was the second leading scorer with 6 points at the time.

Chesapeake threatened the Falcons lead plenty of times in the second half, coming to within 2a couple of times, one of which came behind a 7-0 run for the Skipjacks early in the half which seemed to set the tone for the remaining time. Lackawanna would go on to increase their lead at several points, but Chesapeake always managed to keep within ten. Down 65-55 with under two minutes to go, the Skipjacks refused to give up without a fight, crawling back to within a one-score deficit multiple times. Chesapeake had an opportunity to take control of the game with 16 seconds left down just 2 when a costly turnover gave the ball back to the Falcons with a chance to seal the game. Lackawanna would go on to hit one of two free throws to give possession back to Chesapeake who trailed 70-67 with time still on the clock to make a play but another costly decision was made when the Skipjacks missed a layup when they were trailing by three. The Falcons hit their last free throws to go up 72-67 before a Skipjacks three at the buzzer made the final score 72-70.

Stewart ended the game as the top scorer for Chesapeake with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double performance. TaQuan Courtney added 17 while teammate Kyle Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Skipjacks with 13 points. Tom Nisson was solid with a 9-point, 11-rebound game.

Chesapeake has two days to prepare for their next contest, an away matchup at Allegheny County (PA) on Tuesday, November 14^th at 7 PM as the Skipjacks seek their first win on the year.