New Haven sees win streak snapped, but still lots to like in debut NEC season

Jabri Fitzpatrick has been one of several bright spots for New Haven in first Division I season. (Photo by University of New Haven Athletics)

By Connor Wilson (@Conman_815)

WEST HAVEN, Conn. — It makes sense why New Haven was picked last in the NEC preseason coaches poll. It’s quite simple, actually. 

The coaches didn’t know anything about them.

Who’s to blame them? 

A team transitioning up to the Division I level that was returning just two players? Easy enough just to throw them tenth in rankings, much easier than scouting out who the Chargers had back in October, when they had 19 new bodies and no idea who would actually contribute.

“I think that we can play with most teams in this league,” head coach Ted Hotaling said. “Like most leagues, it comes down to your execution down the stretch and it being at a high level on both the offensive and defensive end.”

 

So, how have the Chargers fared in NEC play? Even after falling 61-57 in a close loss to Mercyhurst, New Haven is still 4-3 in league play and right in the thick of things in the conference, turning heads in the right direction.

“I tell people internally that we expect to win every game and some people think that’s outlandish, but I actually think they’re realistic,” Hotaling said. “I think our guys have a lot of confidence in the league right now.”

It's not always pretty offensively — New Haven ranked in the bottom 15 in scoring in the country coming into the day — but the Chargers find ways every night to, at the very least, be competitive in the NEC, and have shown flashes on both ends after winning three of their last four.

A lot of their success lately, win or loss, and especially Friday, can be attributed to star guard Jabri Fitzpatrick. The junior has explosiveness that is matched by few players at this level and is a phenomenal finisher around the rim. Against the Lakers, he had 12 points, all of them by the 16-minute media timeout in the second half.

Fitzpatrick got going late in the first half and it carried over early in the second as well. He scored a bucket with a couple seconds to put UNH in front, 28-27, at halftime. He scored a quick six points to start the second, starting the game a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.

Fellow Chargers Najimi George and Andre Pasha join Fitzpatrick to form what has really been a big three of sorts at the Hazell Center this year. All three bring varying play styles that supplement each other well. 

“You’ve got to play your game and execute your identity on both offense and defense,” Hotaling said. “And if you can do that, you’re going to give yourself a chance to win. I think our guys are there right now mentally.”

George scored a team high 17 points in the loss, using a bruiser-like play style to get to the rim and free throw line. He shot 7-for-10 from the stripe in the defeat, making it his goal to end up there with every drive. Pasha was the lone Charger to hit from beyond the arc, nailing three triples, including a pair in succession of each other early in the second half. He finished with 15 points.

As the game progressed, both sides traded blows and neither was able to really break away. UNH had a 50-48 lead with around five minutes to play, but the Lakers rattled off a 7-0 run to go up 55-50. A three-point play from Teshaun Steele cut the lead to two at the 2:07 mark, and after a pair of Mercyhurst free throws came perhaps the sequence of the game for the Chargers.

Trailing 57-53, George went to the rim and finished through contact, earning a free throw. He missed, but Steele was able to grab the offensive rebound and after running a set, Pasha hit a floater in the lane to knot things at 57 with 36 seconds to play.

Mercyhurst called timeout and drew up a play that ended up in a buzzer-beating fadeaway mid-range from Jake Lemelman to put them up 59-57 with eight seconds to go. 

“It was a really tough shot to make, so credit to him,” Hotaling said.

Hotaling called a timeout and drew up a sequence that got his floor general the ball. Fitzpatrick received the inbounds around the three-quarter-court area and used his speed to try and get to the rim and tie the game. Instead, he ran into essentially a wall and went to the ground, allowing the Lakers to get the steal and seal the game at the foul line. Hotaling was not happy, believing in the moment that Fitzpatrick was fouled.

“Eight seconds left, just trying to make a play at the rim or get to the rim and create a head of steam to put a little more pressure on the defense,” Hotaling said. “Trying to create a foul or create an advantage, just unfortunate it didn’t turn out well.”

Even with the loss, there was still a lot to like from not just this game, but really the whole season so far for New Haven in its first at the Division I level. If the fellow NEC coaches knew the type of hustle and heart that this team had, I bet they would rank the Chargers a lot higher in their polls going into the year.

The Chargers were supposed to be back in action on Sunday back at the Hazell Center against Saint Francis, but with the expected snowstorm this weekend, the NEC postponed the game. The next game on New Haven’s schedule is now, ironically, a return game against Mercyhurst in Erie. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday.