NEW LONDON, N.H. – Junior Chaz Cullum (Omaha, Neb.) lifted the Chargers to victory on Saturday with a driving layup with 2.5 seconds on the clock to put Colby-Sawyer on top by a 56-54 final. 

Rapid Recap:

• The Chargers started out the gate fast with a 8-0 run sparked by four points by junior Bullen Taban (Phoenix, Ariz.). The Mariners battled back with two layups, but first year Sean Peterson (Chester, N.H.) halted the visitor momentum with a three-consecutive points followed by a jumper by junior Nick Grant (Houston, Texas) to extend the lead to 13-4. The teams traded baskets, but Grant and Cullum continued to dominate with a tough layup by Grant and a showtime reverse dunk by Cullum as the Chargers led 21-7 with 7:39 to play in the first half. The Mariners and Chargers' offense stalled as Colby-Sawyer would hold just a 25-16 lead headed into the break.
• Jaylyn Clardy scored or assisted on the first six points for Mitchell as the cut the lead to just five points, but Grant banked in a triple to keep the lead at 30-22. The Mariners continued to battle with a 8-2 run halted by sophomore Sadiq Abdullahi (Homestead, Fla.) knocking down a three. The Mariners finally got the lead for the first time with a 15-4 run to hold a 45-41 lead with 8:29 to play. An old fashioned three-point play and a jumper by Grant evened the score at 46-46. The teams traded buckets for the next six minutes with a jumper by Grant evening the score again at 54-54 with 1:21 to play. After a defensive stop and two missed free throws, Cullum attacked the cup and scored to give the home team the win. 

Post Game Press:
"We battle each and every game", said junior Chaz Cullum (Omaha, Neb.). "Every person on our team stepped up and played great today. On that last play I told coach, if he miss I got you and that's what I did."

Inside the Numbers:

• The Chargers have now won three home games in a row by a total of four points overall.
• Cullum had another stat stuffing game with 11 points (5-14 FG, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Grant tallied a career-high 20 points (8-16 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-3 FT), to go with three rebounds and two assists. Taban added 12 points (6-9 FG), 11 rebounds, three rejections and a steal. 
• Clardy led the Mariners with 17 points (6-21 FG, 1-7 3PT, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds and three steals. Dontae Pollard added 13 points (6-19 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds and four assists. 
• The Chargers held 40-24 points in the paint advantage with a slight 14-8 fast break point margin in the win.

Up Next: 
The Chargers will travel to Lasell on Thursday February 1st with a 7:30 PM start. 

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