The third time was the charm for the Suffolk Christian Academy boys’ basketball team as it avenged two blowout losses to Isle of Wight Academy this season with a 70-69 road win on Monday night.

“It was definitely an exciting game,” Knights coach Terry Leiter said.

SCA opened its 2014-15 season with a 30-point home loss to the Chargers and later fell by 34 points in the Peninsula Catholic Holiday Classic while lacking junior forward/guard Steven Effler, junior center/forward Barton Metzgar and sophomore forward/guard Chaz Stone.

Suffolk Christian was healthier and more seasoned this time around.

“It was really fun to come back and play such a competitive game with them,” Leiter said. “I think the biggest difference was that from the first game of our season until now we’ve got a lot of guys who are starting to kind of gel and come together as a team.”

The game was tied at the end of the first three quarters.

“I think we had a lot less turnovers,” Leiter said, compared to the season opener.

Effler led the Knights on Monday with 24 points, senior guard/forward Nathan Leiter had 13 points and sophomore forward/center Matthew Shaffer had 13, as well.

Coach Leiter also praised Metzgar for good defense against 6-foot-7-inch senior center Adam Webb.

IWA junior forward Bryce Casey had 19 points, sophomore forward Rylee Williams contributed 13 and Webb had 10.

Suffolk Christian (7-10, 2-4) visited Chesapeake Bay Academy on Tuesday night and hosts Gateway Christian School on Thursday. Isle of Wight (3-14, 1-7) visits Hampton Christian Academy on Friday.