CHARGERS FALL SHORT IN CACC FINALS TO RAMS
Philadelphia, Pa. (3/4/18) The Chargers played the 2018 CACC Men’s Basketball Championships final game on Sunday against Jefferson University.
Philadelphia, Pa. (3/4/18) The Chargers played the 2018 CACC Men's Basketball Championships final game on Sunday against Jefferson University. The final game was held at the Gallagher Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Chargers defeated the Lightning on Saturday and were looking to secure a CACC championship after falling just short one year ago.
Both teams came out strong by trading baskets for the first ten minutes of the first half. The Rams used a 10-0 run on the Chargers to take a ten-point lead and would eventually keep the lead for the duration of the first half. The Rams extended out to a thirteen-point lead over the Chargers which was their largest lead of the first half.
The Chargers were able to cut the deficit down to single digits before the first half ended on Daraja Rodwell's (Baldwin, N.Y.) three-pointer at the buzzer. The Rams took a 34-26 lead into halftime and were twenty minutes away from earning the CACC title.
Rodwell led all scorers with ten points and added three assists in the first half while teammate Daniel Grant (Middletown, N.Y.) scored seven points. The Chargers shot 37.9% from the field and three three-pointers on eight attempts.
Yevgen Shakhniuk led the Rams in the first half with nine points and recorded eight rebounds. The Rams shot 44.4% from the field and were perfect from the free throw line making all eight of their free throw attempts. The Rams outrebounded the Chargers 22-6 in the first half with ten rebounds coming on offense.
The Rams entered the second half off strong by using an 11-4 run to extend out to their largest lead of the game which was fifteen. The Chargers scored the game's next thirteen points to cut eh deficit down to two points and got themselves back into the game. The Chargers tied the game and eventually took the lead over the Rams with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
The Chargers held a three-point lead as time was running out on the Rams. With just seven seconds remaining, the Rams had possession of the ball down by one point. Kaison Randolph was sent to the free throw line with three seconds left. Randolph made both free throws to put the Rams back on top by a point. Kaison's free throws would end up being enough to secure the victory and the CACC championship for the Rams and the Charger's rally fell short.
Rodwell led all scorers with 22 points and recorded five assists. Both Rodwell and Grant were named to the CACC All-Tournament Team.
The Chargers played a strong season and had played strong in the CACC tournament but fell just short of a CACC championship.