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Basketball Spotlight:
Devils Hold on to Defeat Griffins

Thursday, December 28, 2006

By Bob Heller
USIP Sports Information Director

Chestnut Hill College hung tough with the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in tonight's men's basketball game at the Bobby Morgan Arena, but the Devils proved to be the tougher team, limiting the Griffins to just six points over the final six minutes as they hung on to win 64-53.

The win improves the Devils record to 5-4 overall. Chestnut Hill drops to 4-6.

USP placed three players in double figures and had six players with eight or more points on the evening. Brendan Rutledge (So., Hopewell Valley HS/ Pennington, N.J.) came off the bench to pace the Devils with 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field. Howard Lanier (Jr., St. Augustine Prep/Sicklerville, N.J.) and Collin Harrington (Sr., Bishop Eustace HS/Sewell, N.J.) added 10 points apiece while Keith Dundas (Jr., Pennsbury HS/Morrisville, Pa.) chipped in nine points and pulled down a game-high ten rebounds. William Kurtz (Sr., Shawnee HS/Shamong, N.J.) and Michael Mullane (Sr., Cherokee HS/Marlton, N.J.) each had eight points. Kurtz also dished out a game-high seven assists.

Isaac Greer led all scorers with 19 points for the Griffins. Julian McFadden came off the bench to score 14 points while David Goode added 12 points. The rebounding duties were handled equally by the Chestnut Hill players with five different players (Greer, Goode, Steve Tamburo, Shawn Bolling, Mike Devine) recording six rebounds each.

After opening a ten-point lead at the break, the Devils were outscored 13-7 in the opening 5:23 of the final period as Chestnut Hill pulled within four 39-35. Chestnut Hill later pulled within two points, 43-41 at the 11:38 mark. USP followed with layups by Harrington and Eric Cangelosi (Sr., Camden Catholic HS/Haddon Heights, N.J.) to go back up by six 47-41 with 8:21 left before Chestnut Hill twice again pulled within two points, the last at the 5:45 mark on a McFadden layup to make the score 49-47.

The Devils then went on a 10-2 run to open up a 10 point lead 59-49 with just 1:20 left, getting baskets from Mullane, Dundas and Kurtz while struggling from the free throw line, making just four of nine shots during the run. After Greer's three-point play with 56 seconds left pulled Chestnut Hill within seven, 59-52, the Devils righted their free throw woes, making five of six in the final 46 seconds to seal the win 64-53.

The Devils led wire-to-wire with the Griffins forcing three ties, all in the first half. The last tie was at 20-20 at the 7:07 mark, which was followed by a 12-2 run to close out the half with six of the points coming on three baskets by Rutledge.

For the game, the Devils shot 48.1% from the field (25-52, 2-11 3FG) but just 44.4% from the free throw line (12-27). Chestnut Hill wasn't much better from the charity stripe either, connecting on just 8 of 17 (47.1%). From the field the Griffins shot 33.3% (20-60, 5-23 3FG). The Devils held a 45-34 advantage on the glass while both teams committed 13 turnovers.

The Devils will return to action in 2007 when the face the East Stroudsburg University Warriors on January 3, 2007. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m.


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