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Basketball Spotlight: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 By Bob Heller The free throw line, also called "the charity stripe" proved to be uncharitable to the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's basketball teams as the Devils hit less than 60% of their shots from the line, falling to the Caldwell College Cougars in overtime, 71-66 tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The loss, USP's fourth straight, drops the Devils to 11-15 overall and 9-12 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. Caldwell improves to 17-12 overall and 13-8 in league play. The Devils connected on just 15 of 29 shots from the free throw line (51.7%) on the night, including a 1-for-4 performance in the overtime period. USP shot below the 60% mark from the charity stripe for the fourth time in the last five games including both overtime losses last week. Bill Kurtz (Jr., Shawnee HS/Shamong, NJ) led the Devils with 21 points. Eric Cangelosi (Jr., Camden Catholic HS/Haddon Heights, NJ) and Howard Lanier (So., St. Augustine Prep/Sicklerville, NJ) chipped in 12 and 10 points respectively. Collin Harrington (Jr., Bishop Eustace HS/Sewell, NJ) paced the Devils with nine rebounds while Cangelosi had a game high four assists. Manny Perez led the Cougars with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Jean Georges and Teren Scudder each chipped in 10 points to join Perez in double figures. Both teams shot well in the first half, 46.2% for Caldwell (12-26) to 44% for USP (11-25) as the period saw six ties and three lead changes with the score even at 28 all at the break. The Devils biggest lead of the period was five points, 11-6 before the Cougars went on an 11-0 run to take their biggest lead of the period, six points 17-11 with seven minutes left. The Cougars still led by five 24-19 with 2:54 to go before a three-point field goal by Kurtz and a layup by Michael Mullane (Jr., Cherokee HS/Marlton, NJ) tied the score at 24 all. Both teams exchanged baskets the rest of the way and it was deadlocked at 28-all at the break. USP opened the second half with an 11-4 run to take a seven point lead 39-32 at the 11-55 mark. Caldwell battled back to pull within one, 43-42 with 8:36 to go before the Devils again opened up a seven point lead, 53-46 with 5:36 left in regulation. 75 seconds later the lead was back to one, 53-52 when the Cougars, who were already shooting two with the double bonus, hit four straight free throws following a layup by Georges. A minute later the game was tied for the seventh time, 55-55 on a three point play by Perez with 3:21 left. Harrington put the Devils back up by two before B.J. Suchy tied it again at 57-all. Perez followed with a layup to put the Cougars on top 59-57 with 1:32 left before Lanier got a layup on a drive to the basket to tie things up again at 59-all with just 63 ticks left on the clock. Kelvin Reese gave the Cougars a two-point lead with 46 seconds left before Cangelosi nailed a jumper to tie things at 61-61 with 31 seconds left. Caldwell used four timeouts before Suchy missed a shot with three seconds left and Cangelosi grabbed the rebound giving the Devils one last chance. Lanier's desperation shot hit the backboard and bounced off and the Devils were headed to their third overtime game in their last four. Layups by Georges and Perez put the Cougars up by four 65-61 as the overtime period opened. Keith Dundas (So., Pennsbury HS/Morrisville, PA) added layup at the 2:15 mark to pull the Devils within two 65-63 with 2:15 left. Neither team would score again for the next 1:44 before Georges made two free throws to put the Cougars back up by four 67-63. Harrington then missed a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left but Kurtz grabbed the offensive rebound and put it in to make the score 67-65 with 14 seconds left. A quick foul and Perez made a pair of free throws to make the score 69-65. Cangelosi was then fouled and made the second of two free throws to pull USP within three 69-66 with 8 seconds to go. Perez then closed out the scoring with two more free throws to make the final margin 71-66. For the game, the Cougars outshot the Devils from the field 39.3% (24-61) to 37.7% (23-61). USP made just five of 20 shots from beyond the arc (25%) while Caldwell was just 2-for-11 (18.2%)from "three". The Cougars held the advantage on the free throw line, connecting on 19 of 24 from the line in the second half and overtime (79.1%) and 21 of 26 for the game (80.8%). The Devils held a slight advantage on the boards 42-39 while both teams had 12 assists and 13 turnovers apiece. USP closes out their regular season with a home game against area rival Holy Family University on Saturday, February 25, 2006. Tip off is slated for 3 p.m |
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