Comeback Falls Short as Deacons Defeat Devils in Overtime

Basketball Spotlight:
Comeback Falls Short as Deacons Defeat Devils in Overtime

The University of the Sciences men’s basketball team came back from a 16-point halftime deficit, took the lead, lost it and forced overtime in this afternoon’s contest at Bloomfield College. However the Deacons outscored the Devils 13-9 in the extras stanza to come away with the 101-97 victory and hand the Devils their third straight loss.

USP falls to 11-14 overall with the loss and 9-11 in league play. Bloomfield solidifies its hold on first place with the win, improving their record to 16-9 overall and 15-5 in CACC games.

The Devils placed six players in double figures led by Eric Cangelosi's (Jr., Camden Catholic HS/Haddon Heights, NJ) 21 points. Cangelosi made 8 of 19 shots from the field but was only 5-for-12 from the free throw line. Collin Harrington (Jr., Bishop Eustace HS/Sewell, NJ) added 20 points for USP . Both Cangelosi and Harrington had a team high seven rebounds.

Joining Cangelosi and Harrington in double figures were Howard Lanier (So., St. Augustine Prep/Sicklerville, NJ) (16 points); Michael Mullane (Jr., Cherokee HS/Marlton, NJ) (13 points); Bill Kurtz (Jr., Shawnee HS/Shamong, NJ) (12 points); and Keith Dundas (So., Pennsbury HS/Morrisville, PA) (12 points). Kurtz paced the devils with five assists.

Danny Terrell paced the Deacons with 26 points, including eight in the extra period. Andre Dabney added 23 points while Tony Wilson chipped in 15 off the bench.

Bloomfield posted a 61.3 shooting percentage in the first half to take a 49-33 lead into the locker room at the break. In the second period, the Devils started things off with a 13-6 run to cut the lead to single digits, 55-46 with 14:28 left in the game. After Wilson nailed a three-point field goal to put the Deacons back up by 12, 58-46, USP went on a 15-4 run to cut the margin to one , 62-61 with 10:11 left. Dundas started things off with a pair of free throws and Lanier followed with a layup and a free throw to make the score 58-51. Cangelosi followed with a pair of free throws before Wilson stopped the run with a pair of free throws of his own. Kurtz followed with a three-point field goal to make the score 60-56 and Cangelosi added a layup to make the score 60-58.. Dabney followed with a layup before Kurtz nailed another ‘trey’ complete the run and pull USP within one, 62-61.

Bloomfield then went on a 8-4 run to go back up by five 70-65 before the Devils countered with a 15-8 run to take a two point lead, 80-78 with 4:09 left. After a free throw by Anthony Separovich pulled Bloomfield within one, Harrington added a layup to put the Devils up by three, 82-79 with 2:37 left. USP continued to lead until Dabney tied the game on a three-point play at 86-all with 35 seconds left. Both teams exchanged baskets and the Devils had a chance to win the game in regulation but Mullane missed a layup and Kurtz missed the put back. Harrington grabbed the rebound and put the ball into the basket but the shot came after the horn had sounded sending the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Devils started the scoring with a jumper by Harrington. The Deacons came back with two straight baskets to take the lead 92-90. The Devils tied it up twice more before Terrell's three-point play put the deacons up for good by three, 97-94. Kareem Boswell added a layup to make the score 99-94 before the Devils added a free throw by Cangelosi and a layup by Lanier to round out their scoring. Dabney and Terrell each made one of two free throws in the final 38 seconds to provide the final margin of four points, 101-97.

For the game, the Deacons shot 57.6%(38-66) while the Devils made 50% (36-72) from the field. USP made just six of 20 shots from beyond the arc while the Deacons were 9-for-21. The Devils had the slight advantage on the foul line making 19 free throws but missed 14 to shoot just 57.6% (19-33). bloomfield made 16 of 22 from the charity stripe. The Deacon outrebounded the devils 38-32 and committed 21 turnovers to USP's 18. (The Devils had just six turnovers in the second half and overtime.)

The Devils will close out their regular season at home next week with a games against Caldwell College on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 and Holy Family University on February 25, 2006. The Caldwell game will tip off at 8 p.m. while the Holy Family game will start at 3 p.m.