NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Colby-Sawyer men's basketball picked up their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game of the year holding off Elms by a 71-70 final. 

Rapid Recap:

• The Blazers held an early 9-7 lead after the first four minutes, but a three-pointer by Chaz Cullum (Omaha, Neb.) put the home team in front early. Elms countered  with nine-straight points to pick up a 18-10 lead. The Chargers battled back with a 9-0 run highlighted by six points from junior Jaisan Parker (Durham, N.C.) to give Colby-Sawyer the one point edge with 7:42 to play in the first half. Colby-Sawyer stayed on the attack with a dunk by Cullum and jumpers by first year Sean Peterson (Chester, N.H.) and Parker to hold a 27-25 lead. The Blazers battled back over the next stretch to head into halftime trailing 34-31. 
• Junior Mike Joanou (Burbank, Calif.) kicked off the second half with a triple to spark a 7-0 Charger run to pull the lead into double-digits for the first time in the contest. Elms kept chipping away dropping the lead to 45-41, but a shot at the charity stripe by Cullum and a finish by junior Bullen Taban (Phoenix, Ariz.) kept Colby-Sawyer in front by seven with 13 minutes to play. The Blazers stormed back once again to take a 51-50 lead with 10 minutes to play, but back-to-back Cullum buckets and another by Taban inched the Chargers in front by a bucket with seven minutes remaining. After the teams traded more baskets, Peterson netted his second three of the night to keep the lead at three points. The Chargers and Blazers continued trading buckets and after a Taban bucket the lead was 68-63 with 1:19 left. The Blazers scored three free throws, but Peterson came in clutch with an and-one bucket to get the lead to 71-66. The Blazers had one final chance getting two steals and two baskets, but the shot with a second to go by Tahquell Cadel fell short to end the game with a one-point victory. 

Post Game Press:
"This is our first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win and we needed it", said first year Sean Peterson (Chester, N.H.). "I am really glad we won this game, I try and do what is asked from me and now that we got this win we will try to carry the big momentum into Dean on Saturday. We are here now!"

Inside the Numbers:

• Peterson posted a career-high 18 points (6-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, 4-5 FT) to go with seven rebounds and three assists. Cullum tallied 18 points (8-13 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-4 FT), five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Taban netted 12 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 FT), nine boards, four steals and a pair of blocks, while Parker added 10 points (4-15 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-3 FT), five rebounds and a steal. 
• Cadel paced the Blazers with 19 points (7-16 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-5 FT), seven steals, five assists and five rebounds. RJ Mayfield added 15 points (7-11 FG, 1-1 3PT) and four rebounds in the loss.

Up Next: 
The Chargers will host Dean on Saturday with a 3:00 PM start.

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