Kurtz Breaks Three-Point Record as Devils Fall to Deacons

Basketball Spotlight:
Kurtz Breaks Three-Point Record as Devils Fall to Deacons

William Kurtz became the Devils' all-time leader in three-point field goals tonight as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's basketball team lost to Bloomfield College 76-67 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game at the Bobby Morgan Arena in Philadelphia.

Kurtz (Sr., Shawnee HS/ Shamong, N.J.) entered the game with 251 career three-point field goals, two behind all time leader Joe Miller's 253. Miller played form 1991-1995. Bill took little time in tying the record, getting two 'trey's in the first 3:13 of the game. However it wasn't until the 13:03 mark of the second half, when Kurtz took a pass from Eric Cangelosi (Sr., Camden Catholic HS/Haddon Heights, N.J.) and buried a 20 foot jumper from the left side to break the mark with his 254th career three-point field goal. Kurtz added another 'trey' in the final minute to give him four on the night and 255 for his career.

Kurtz led the Devils with 18 points, one of four players in double figures for USP. Keith Dundas (Jr., Pennsbury HS/ Morrisville, Pa.) added 15 points while Howard Lanier (Jr., St. Augustine Prep/ Sicklerville, N.J.) and Cangelosi each chipped in 11. Lanier also had a game-high seven assists. Collin Harrington (Sr., Bishop Eustace HS/Sewell, N.J.) led the Devils with six rebounds while scoring six points.

Andre Dabney and Omari Knox each recorded 22 points for the Deacons. Knox also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds as the Deacons outrebounded the Devils 42-28. Dabney was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line and the Deacons finished the game hitting 19 of 22 (86.4%). USP made 11 of 13 from the free throw line (84.6%).

The loss drops the Devils record to 10-12 overall and 8-9 in league play. Bloomfield improves to 6-16 overall and 4-11 in league play.

Bloomfield scored the first four points of the game, which turned out to be the largest lead of the half for either team through the first 13 minutes. The Deacons held a two point lead 24-22 at the 8:04 mark when the Devils went on a 12-2 run to take a 34-26 lead with 2:39 left. Michael Mullane's (Sr., Cherokee HS/Marlton, N.J.) two free throws tied the game at 24-all before Cangelosi nailed a three-point field goal to give USP a three-point lead, 27-24. Dundas followed with a traditional three-point play to boost USP's margin to six before BC's Chris Sampson had a layup to cut the lead back to four 30-26. Kurtz added a jumper and Mullane another pair of free throws to complete the run. The Deacons scored the final six points of the half (3 FT's by Dabney and a 'trey' by Nhamdi Ahaneku) to pull within two at the break, 34-32.

Bloomfield opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take a seven point lead 41-34 with 16:41 left. USP countered with a 9-2 run to tie the game up for the fifth time at 43-all at the 13:56 mark, getting baskets from Harrington, Dundas and Kurtz and a 'trey' from Lanier. The Deacons then took a slim lead 49-48, followed by an 8-2 run by USP to go up by five, 56-51 midway through the period. The lead fluctuated between three and five points until a layup by Knox pulled the Deacons within one, 58-57 with 7:07 left. Dundas' layup some 10 seconds later made the score 60-57. Bloomfield then rattled off ten straight points to go back up by seven 67-60 with just 1:48 left in the game. Two free throws by Cangelosi pulled the Devils within five 67-62 before Sampson added a three-point play to boost BC's lead to eight 70-62. Kurtz added his final 'trey' of the game to make the score 70-65 with just 47 seconds left but this was as close as the Devils would get as the Deacons knocked down six straight free throws in the final 46 seconds to provide the final margin of victory 76-67.

Bloomfield finished the game shooting 44.4% from the field (24-54, 9-20 3FG). The Devils meanwhile shot just 37.1% (23-62, 10-22 3FG).

The Devils take to the road again as they travel to Orangeburg, New York to take on Dominican College in a pivotal CACC matchup on Saturday, February 11, 2007. Tip off is set for 3 p.m.