Philadelphia, Pa. (3/3/18) The Dominican College Men's Basketball team played the semi-final game of the 2018 CACC Men's Basketball Championships hosted at Gallagher Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Chargers faced the Lightning of Goldey-Beacom in the semi-final round to earn the right to play in the finals on Sunday March 4^th. This game marked the second match-up this season between the two teams with the Chargers coming out on top in a 75-73 victory back on February 17^th.

Both teams started out strong in the early parts of the first half with the Lightning holding the lead for most of the half. The Lightning used a 13-2 run down the stretch of the opening half to extend out to their largest lead of the period which was eleven points.

Dominican answered late by cutting into the deficit back down to single digits. At the end of the first period, the Chargers found themselves back within three as the Lighting took a 42-39 lead into halftime. The Chargers shot 46.9% from the field in the first half and 40% from three-point range. The Chargers made seven of eight free throws for 87.5% from the free throw line.

Michael Richardson (Hackensack, N.J.) led the scoring for the Chargers in the half with nine points including making four of four free throws. Ian Gardener (Norwalk, Conn.) added eight points and Jonathan Garcia (Springfield, Mass.) scored seven while adding two assists and two rebounds.

As for the Lightning, Corey Taite led the team with nine points while Dante Thompson and Marcellus Livingston both scored eight points. The Lightning shot 46.7% from the field in the half and made four of twelve from three-point range for 33.3%. The Lightning made ten of twelve free throws for 83.3%.

The second half was a back and forth contest with neither team taking more than a two-point lead for more than half of the period. The Chargers jumped out to a nine-point lead over the Lightning with time winding down. The lighting came storming back to cut into the Charger lead and with nine seconds left the Chargers held a 76-73 lead.

The Lightning had the final possession of regulation trailing by three points. Marcellus Livingston took a three-point shot with time running out and hit the game tying shot. The game was sent into overtime in a competitive game.

Daraja Rodwell (Baldwin, N.Y.) led all scorers in the second half with 20 points. The Chargers outscored the Lightning 37-34 in the second half but the Lightning were able to send the game into overtime.

At the start of overtime, both teams traded the first few baskets. With just over a minute to go the Chargers took a two-point lead and eventually added to their lead as time ran out. The Chargers held on late in OT to secure the win and their right to play in the finals on Sunday.

Rodwell led the Chargers in points with 22 and Gardener finished with 18 points. Daniel Grant (Middletown, NY) finished with 14 points and Richardson finished with 12 points.

The Chargers will play in the finals of the 2018 CACC Men's Basketball Championships on Sunday March 4^th after holding onto the win over the Lightning.