Basketball Spotlight: Devils Survive to Win and Reach .500 Mark Saturday, February 11, 2006 By Bob Heller USIP Sports Information Director The Lightning struck- but it was just a glancing blow as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's basketball team withstood a 73% shooting effort from Goldey Beacom College in the second half to defeat the Lightning, 66-62 this afternoon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With the win, the Devils reach the .500 mark for the first time this season with an 11-11 overall record. USP also improves to 9-8 in CACC games and take over sole possession of sixth place in the league standings, just one game out of second place with five conference games remaining. The Devils have now won 11 of their last 15 games. Goldey Beacom falls to 15-8 overall and 10-8 in league play. Bill Kurtz (Jr., Shawnee HS/Shamong, NJ) led the Devils with 25 points, 17 of them in the first half and was the lone Devil to reach double figures. Keith Dundas (So., Pennsbury HS/Morrisville, PA) and Eric Cangelosi (Jr., Camden Catholic HS/Haddon Heights, NJ) each had nine for USP. Cangelosi led the Devils with five rebounds and Dundas dished out a team leading four assists. Nate Lewis led three GBC players in double figures with 16 points. Tim Polk added 14 while DJ Stanberry chipped in 11. Polk also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Defensively, the Devils limited the Lightning to just 15 shots in the first half while taking 27 of their own. However Goldey Beacom made eight of those 15 (53.3% while USP made 14 of the 27 (51.9%) Five of the Devils 14 baskets were from beyond the three point arc as the Devils built a 40-25 lead at the break, leading right from the opening tip. USP led by 14 in the second half, 45-31 when the Lightning went on a 14-3 run to pull within three, 48-45 with 12:38 left, making six of seven shots from the field, two of them "threes" by Lewis. Kurtz then put the Devils back up by six with a 'three' of his own and Michael Mullane (Jr., Cherokee HS/Marlton, NJ) followed with another 'trey' to boost the USP lead back to nine, 54-45 with 10:50 left. Baskets by Goldey's Derek Savage and Stanberry made the score 54-49 before Cangelosi got into the long range action with a three-pointer of his own at the 9:03 mark to make the score 57-49. Neither team scored again until the 5:15 mark when Stanberry hit a short jumper to make the score 57-51. Mullane made one of two from the free throw line to boost the lead back to seven, 58-51 with 4:49 left before Stanberry struck again to make the score 58-53 with 3:44 left. Two free throws by Dundas made the score 60-53 at the 2:15 mark before Polk pulled the Lightning within five again, 60-55 with a layup at the 1:54 mark. The final minute of the game saw some dramatics as Goldey Beacom was able to pull within two on two quick baskets. Collin Harrington (Jr., Bishop Eustace HS/Sewell, NJ) had given the Devils a 61-55 lead with 48 seconds left before Devon Valentine drove all the way in for a layup to make the score 61-57 with 39.8 seconds left. USP then turned the ball over with almost no time ticking off the clock and GBC's Lewis had another layup with 34.7 seconds left to make the score 61-59. Kurtz was fouled and made two free throws with 32.8 seconds to make the score 63-59. Valentine missed a three-point field goal attempt with 19 seconds left and USP's Dundas got the rebound and was promptly fouled. The sophomore forward made one of two to make the score 64-59. GBC's Shannon Davis then banked in a long jumper about five feet beyond the top of the key to make the score 66-62 with 6.1 seconds left. Howard Lanier (So., St. Augustine Prep/Sicklerville, NJ) then sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 5.9 seconds left as the Lightning missed their final shot attempt and the Devils hung on to win, 66-62. The Devils finished the game shooting 42.6% from the field (20-47) despite making just six of 20 attempts in the second half no field goals over the last 9:03. The Lighting shot 64.9% from the field (24-37) and outrebounded the Devils 27-23. USP made 17 of 29 free throws (58.6%) to Goldey's 10-for-17 (58.8%). The Devils held a big advantage in the turnover department, converting 21 GBC turnovers into 24 points while Goldey Beacom recorded just 13 points over 10 USP miscues. USP also shot 9-for-18 from beyond the arc (50%) while the Lighting made 40% (4-10). USP is on the road again next week with three consecutive road games, starting with Wilmington College on Tuesday, February 14, 2006. Tip off is set for 8 p.m.