PITTSBURGH -- The Grove City College men's basketball team rallied from a 12-point deficit Saturday afternoon to hand host Chatham (7-2, 5-1) its first Presidents' Athletic Conference loss, 72-62, at the Cougars' Athletic and Fitness Center.

Grove City (6-3, 4-1 PAC) hit 21 of 28 (75 percent) shots from the field in the second half while posting 53 points over the final 20 minutes. 

Senior guard Chase Yarberough (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) fired in a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting to help pace Grove City. Yarberough scored 20 points in the second half while going 7 for 8 from the field. Junior forward Mike Christenson (Oakton, Va./Trinity) scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half while sophomore center Isaac Cherry (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Nordonia) added 10 points, along with a game-high eight rebounds. 

The Wolverines trailed by a dozen points on three occasions in the first half but pulled to within 27-19 by halftime as Christenson hit two free throws and sophomore center Austin Johncour (Sewickley, Pa./Avonworth) scored in the paint.

Grove City then surged ahead, 30-29, with a 9-0 run in the second half. Yarberough's jumper sparked the run while Cherry and Christenson followed with layups. Yarberough's three-pointer put Grove City ahead with 17 minutes left. A Yarberough putback gave Grove City a 34-33 lead, a lead that the Wolverines did not relinquish.

Grove City broke open the game with a 13-3 run midway through the second half. Yarberough's three-pointer and jumper gave Grove City a 49-41 lead with 10 minutes left. Christenson's jumper and two Yarberough free throws extended the lead to 53-44. Junior guard Kyle Randle (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) and sophomore guard Drew Collins (Washington, Pa./Trinity) capped the outburst with consecutive jumpers. 

Randle added five rebounds to help Grove City attain a 42-32 edge on the glass. Grove City finished the game 28 of 59 (47 percent) from the field after going 7 for 31 (23 percent) in the first half. The Wolverines limited Chatham to 36 percent (22 of 61) shooting from the field. 

Each team had 14 turnovers. Yarberough recorded four assists while Christenson and sophomore guard Caleb Haller (Delaware, Ohio/Marion Hawks) each assisted three field goals. Christenson also had four steals while Yarberough had three thefts. Cherry, senior forward Jaxon Weyforth (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and freshman forward Anderson Skelton (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) all blocked two shots. 

Lovenson Xavier led the Cougars with 22 points. Chatham's 62 points marked a season-low for the Cougars, who entered the game on a six-game win streak.

Yarberough now has 990 career points. Saturday's game marked the 2024 road finale for the Wolverines, who will play a pair of home games during the semester break. 

The Wolverines host Alma in non-conference play Wednesday, December 18 at 3 p.m. Grove City returns to conference play Monday, December 30 at 12 p.m. when Allegheny visits the Grove City College Arena.