ENOLA, PA – Chenyey University men's basketball team staged a frantic second half comeback that saw a once 23-point deficit whittled down to just two points, but ultimately the Wolves were unable to overcome an eight-minute first half drought and lost a 64-52 decision at Central Penn University on Thursday night.

Sophomore Nathan Rosario (Philadelphia, PA, Parkway HS) scored a career-high 20 points, to pace the Wolves (5-14), who were looking for its second 20 point comeback of the season, after accomplishing the feat at Five Towns College on Jan.18. Cheyney has dropped two in a row after starting 2023 by winning three of its first four games. The Knights (5-12) avenged a loss at Cheyney earlier in the season to split the season series.

Rosario opened the scoring with a three to give Cheyney its only lead of the game, The game was even at 9-9 on a basket from sophomore Nathan Pettus Jr (Philadelphia, PA, Hill Freedman World Academy HS) with 9:55 to play in the first half. The Knights would score the next 13 points and the Wolves would not change the scoreboard until a layup from sophomore Jabril Baxter (Philadelphia, PA, Academy at Palumbo HS) with 1:46 showing on the clock.

Two free-throws from Pettus Jr. cut the deficit to under 10 at 22-13, but the Knights countered with the final seven points to take a 29-13 advantage heading to the break.

The Knights used a 10-3 run to start the second stanza and build a 39-16 lead with 16:06 to play.

Cheyney fought back with a 31-10 outburst to pull within 49-47 with 3:18 to play.

Trailing 40-20, the comeback began with an 8-0 run, ignited by a layup from freshman Dut Kuol (Aweil, South Sudan, Olympus Prep HS,) a tipin from sophomore Kian Nixon (Upper Marlboro, MD, , Feather River CC), two free-throws from Pettus Jr., and a Rosario layup. A three-pointer from the Knights pushed the lead back to 15, 43-28, the Wolves used an 8-2 run to make it a nine-point game 45-36 capped by a three-pointer from Rosario with 6:46 to play.

Another three-point shot from Rosario pulled Cheyney within six at 47-41, after a basket by Central Penn, the Wolves went on a 6-0 spurt, as Pettus Jr. made a layup and two free-throws, then forced a turnover and a Nixon jumper made it a two-point contest, 49-47 with 3:18 showing on the clock.

The Knights responded with a three-point play, that sparked a 13-point run to eventually pull away for the 64-52 win.

Pettus Jr., who registered a double-double with a 12-point 10 rebound effort, also led Cheyney with three assists, while adding two steals and a blocked shot. Nixon scored 14 points and grabbed eight boards, and Kuol was also credited with eight rebounds.

The Wolves, continue a six-game run of games away from Cope Hall, when it travels to Dobbs Ferry, NY on February 1, 2023, to face Mercy College. The Mavericks, (2-15) are a division II school that plays out of the East Coast Conference. Tipoff inside of Victory Gym is scheduled for 7:00 PM.