Lakewood, N.J. - The Georgian Court University men's basketball squad enjoyed a New Year's celebration a little earlier than most Saturday afternoon as the Lions secured their first win of the season after escaping the GCU Wellness Center with a 98-95 defeat of Chestnut Hill College.

The win not only provides the Lions with a much-needed conference victory (1-3 CACC, 1-11 overall), but snaps a 31-game losing streak that dates back to Dec. 3, 2016 when GCU knocked off University of the Sciences, 64-63. The Griffins, at 0-5 (1-11 overall), remain winless in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) action.

GCU looked to be cruising to the finish line when a Juwuan Carter three-pointer put the home team ahead by a seemingly insurmountable 14-point margin (84-70) with only 2:16 remaining in regulation. However, a miracle three-point heave by Liban Awl (Jr.-Manassas, Va.) dropped through with two seconds left to cap a 15-1 Chestnut Hill run and force overtime with the score knotted at 85.

The lead would not exceed two points for either side until Carter's lay-in with 14 seconds left in OT put the home team ahead by four at 94-90. A Demetrius Isaac (Sr.-Philadelphia, Pa.) three-ball with two ticks left inched the Griffins to within one, but a pair of subsequent free throws from GCU's Omar Williams iced the win for head coach Terrence Stewart and his roster.

Georgian Court earned its first-ever overtime victory, and marked only the second-ever such contest in program history (12/3/14 vs. Goldey-Beacom, 78-82, 2 OT). GCU's 98 points also represent the Lions' highest-scoring effort in their five-year history after netting as many as 87 on two different occasions.

Carter topped the scoring column for the Lions with 23 points, which included a game-high six three-pointers. Caleb Bowser followed with 22 points and six helpers. Nikola Vujovic buried 19 points in the victory while Williams poured in 17 of his own, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.

Isaac, who netted his 1,000th career point for the Griffins with a second-half jumper (17:08), led all players with his 30 points and seven assists. Cartier Talford (Jr.-Reading, Pa.) followed with 23 points off the Chestnut Hill bench. 

The Lions look to keep the momentum going this Wednesday with a CACC road contest at Holy Family University. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m.