Box Score
BLOOMSBURG — Junior Dontahe Jordan (Williamsport/Williamsport) made the biggest shot of his career with a game-winning jumper with 1.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team to an 88-86 victory over Chestnut Hill College Tuesday evening at the Nelson Field House.
 
Jordan's bucket came after Chestnut Hill tied the game off a layup with 11 seconds remaining.  Freshman point guard Charles Haigler (Charles Town, WV/Hargrave Military Academy) pushed the ball forward for the Huskies (2-1) and set up Jordan for the game-winning shot from the top of the key.
 
“We ran a play that I was able to take the pass, rip through and get a good look at the basket,” Jordan said.  “We've practiced these types of plays since my freshman year, and I just want to thank the coaches and my teammates for having faith in me down the stretch.”
 
The reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Year had a game to remember for a lifetime.  Not only did he seal the Bloomsburg victory, he notched his third double-double in as many games this season with a 23-point, 20-rebound performance against the Griffins.  It is believed to be the first 20-rebound game for the Huskies in over 15 years of men's basketball.
 
The Huskies overcame a 15-point deficit with 6:43 to play in regulation.  They rattled off a 13-0 run to cut the game to two with 3:02 left.  Junior guard Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) drained a three-pointer, his only one of the game, with 30 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 79.
 
“As a team, I felt we were playing pretty well and together; we just weren't hitting any shots,” Bloomsburg head coach John Sanow said.  “I told our guys that if we keep playing the same way and getting open looks and playing unselfishly, at some point we were going to be able to hit some big shots and get us back into the ballgame.”
 
In overtime, Christmas scored the first points of the extra period to give Bloomsburg its first lead since holding a 23-20 advantage with six minutes to play in the first half. 
 
Chestnut Hill regained a three-point lead later in the overtime period, but a Christmas layup and a Nnamdi Njoku (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) three-pointer put the crowd back on its feet as the Huskies led by two with 1:27 to play.  The Njoku long-range field goal led to the Griffins eventually tying the game with 11 seconds to play, as Jordan's brilliant jumper closed the book on Bloomsburg's first win on its home floor this season.
 
Jordan played the role of 'Chairman of the Boards' Tuesday night.  Seven of Jordan's 20 rebounds came on the offensive end, and he made all six of his free throws with three steals.
 
“Dontahe gave a great effort tonight and was unselfish with the basketball,” Sanow praised of Jordan's 20-20 night.  “20 rebounds is a huge effort on the boards for us and he was able to get some big points for us in the second half.”
 
Redshirt-freshman Wes Lyons (Millville/Millville) also posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds; both of which were career-highs.  Lyons played a significant role in the BU comeback as he hit a three-pointer with 44 seconds to play, giving Christmas the opportunity to tie the game the following possession.
 
Christmas finished with 16 points including his clutch three-pointer in the waning moments of regulation.  It extended his streak of consecutive games with a three-point basket to 13 games.  He also grabbed eight rebounds after a career-high nine in BU's last game against Penn State Hazleton.
 
Haigler and Njoku rounded out the quintet of double-digit scorers for Bloomsburg with 11 points apiece.  Haigler had a team-high four assists, none bigger than his flawless pass to Jordan to lead to the game-winning bucket.
 
Chestnut Hill senior guard Mark DiRugeris Jr. had ice-water running through his veins for the Griffins.  He dropped a game-high 31 points including an 8-for-9 performance from beyond the arc.  However, he turned the ball over seven times and did not score since Chestnut Hill led by 15 with 6:43 to play in the second half, largely due to the defensive presence of Haigler.
 
DiRugeris was a key contributor in building the Griffins lead midway through the second half as Bloomsburg saw a four-point deficit grow to 15 in just under a three-minute span.  Also scoring in doubles figures for Chestnut Hill were Seamus Radtke (18), Alssene Saintilus (12), and Luke Dickson (10).
 
The Huskies will enjoy the next couple of days off for the Thanksgiving break before returning to action next week.  They travel to Lincoln University on Tuesday, Nov. 27 with tipoff set for 7 p.m.