MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Men's Basketball team is off to their best start in Division II history after defeating their cross-town rival, Elizabeth City State, in a non-conference contest at home, 79-62, on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 79, Elizabeth City State 62

RECORDS | Chowan 5-0, ECSU 2-5

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Helms Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

All five starters for the Hawks were in double-figures, led by Robert Grubbs with a team-high 18 points.  Gus Rowland chipped in with 15 points and five assists.

Demetrius Sanders, Timothy Bing, and Michael Kelly netted 14 points each.  Sanders recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.

Chowan shot 50.0% from the floor and held the Vikings to 23.8% from behind the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

Demetrius Sanders started the contest off with a dunk on a back-door pass from Michael Kelly.  Kelly would get into the scoring column with a jumper in the paint.

Timothy Bing knocked down back-to-back triples and a jumper by Michael Kelly allowed the Hawks to lead by double-figures, 14-4, just 3:59 into the contest.

Demetrius Sanders and Michael Kelly pushed the lead to 14 before a triple by Robert Grubbs continued the run for the Hawks.

Timothy Bing's triple along with a jumper by Michael Kelly saw the lead swell to 19, 32-13, midway through the half.

Robert Grubbs traded a three-pointer with the Vikings to keep the lead at 15.  Timothy Bing's buzzer beating three-pointer led the Hawks to a 45-28 lead at the half.

Second Half:

The Vikings cut the deficit to 12 before back-to-back old-fashioned three-point plays by Gus Rowland and Robert Grubbs pushed the advantage to 18, 54-36, at the media timeout.

Chowan kept the lead in double-figures despite the Vikings' efforts to trim the deficit to 12.  Michael Kelly sparked a quick 7-0 run to push the lead back to 19, 69-50.  Gus Rowland tallied a fast break jumper and a three-pointer during the run.

Both teams traded buckets and free throws down the stretch.  Deon Joyner gave the Hawks their largest lead with a jumper, 79-59, but the Vikings would knock down a three-pointer to end the contest.

UP NEXT

Chowan hosts CIAA newcomer, Claflin, in the CIAA opener on Saturday, December 1.  Tip-off is slated for 4pm.