Basketball Spotlight: Lightning Strikes Down Devils in Overtime Wednesday, January 12, 2005 By Bob Heller USIP Sports Information Director The Goldey Beacom Lightning, after rallying from a five-point deficit in the final 37 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime scored the first nine points of the extra period send the Devils to their seventh loss of the season, 86-81. The loss drops the Devils record to 5-7 overall, 4-3 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. Goldey Beacom earned their first victory of the season with the win. With the score tied at 71-71 at the start of the overtime, the Devils started to unravel. After controlling the opening tip, two turnovers and an intentional foul by Chris Brattelli (Sr., Highland Regional HS/Clementon, NJ) led to six straight Lightning points. A three-point field goal by GBC's John Byrd gave the Lightning a nine-point lead 80-71 with 3:03 left in the overtime. The Devils were running out of gas and pulled no closer than four the rest of the way as the Lightning pulled off the upset win. USP had led 69-64 with 37 seconds left before Goldey Beacom's Jeremy Jeanne hit a layup with 30 ticks on the clock to make the score 69-66. USP's Howard Lanier (Fr., St. Augustine Prep/Sicklerville, NJ) was fouled two seconds later and made the first of two free throws. After missing the second free throw, the Lightning gained possession and promptly pulled within one point 70-69 on a three-point field goal by Ron Reed with 21.6 seconds left. Goldey Beacom fouled again putting Gene Willard (Sr., Cardinal O'Hara HS/ Broomall, PA) to the line. Willard missed the first shot but made the second putting the Devils up by two 71-69. After two missed free throws by Goldey Beacom, the rebound slipped through Brattelli's hands and out of bounds, giving the Lightning another chance. This time they converted with Reed hitting a jumper to tie the game at 71-71 and send it into overtime. This final Lightning rally came after the Devils had overcome a 10-point Goldey Beacom lead, 54-44, midway through the second to take a 60-58 lead with just 6:09 left. Free throws by Willard started the rally and pulled USP within eight 54-46 with 9:50 left. Brattelli followed with a layup at the 9:18 mark and Chris Dougherty (Sr., Haverford HS/Haverford, PA) added two free throws at the 9:08 mark to make the score 54-50. Bill Kurtz (So., Shawnee HS/Shamong, NJ) nailed a three-pointer to pull USP within one 54-53 at the 8:01 mark. After both teams exchanged baskets, the Lightning went back up by three 58-55 at the 6:49 mark before Willard made a layup and was fouled with 6:34 left. Willard made the free throw and the game was tied at 58-58. Thirty seconds later Dougherty hit a jumper to give USP their first lead since early in the second period. USP kept the lead and built it to five points in the final minute of play leading up to the final rally by Goldey Beacom which sent the game into overtime. Willard led the Devils with 20 points and nine rebounds.Brattelli added 18 points while Kurtz chipped in 16. The Devils shot just 42.4% in the second period and overtime (14-33) while Goldey Beacom made a sizzling 59.4% of their shots (19-32) including four of five in the overtime. Next up for the Devils is a conference road matchup at Nyack College on Saturday, January 15, 2005.