One weather make-up game comprised the Monday schedule as crosstown rivals riding noteworthy winning streaks clashed in a CACC South battle. Here’s how it all went down:
USCIENCES 76 PHILADELPHIA 70
National Player of the Week Garret Kerr racked up 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Sho Da-Silva was brilliant off the bench, netting 22 points (9-13 FG) in 22 minutes while also pulling down seven rebounds in leading #21 University of the Sciences past inner-city rival Philadelphia at the Gallagher Center, clinching the program’s first-ever regular-season title. The Devils – who have extended their winning streak to a region-best 12 – posted the first eight points and never lost the lead, using a 25-9 burst to open up a 40-23 divide after a Da-Silva lay-up with 2:08 to play in the half. The Rams – who were carried by Peter Alexis’ 25 points (8-11 FG, 9-11 FT), 10 boards and six blocked shots – closed out the period with an 8-0 run, trimming the deficit to 40-31. It was 44-32 two minutes into the second half before Derek Johnson (25 points, six rebounds) knocked down a 3-pointer and jump shot on successive possessions, sparking a 9-0 spurt that brought the hosts within 44-41. USciences boosted the advantage back to 64-56 inside of the final eight minutes, but the hosts battled back, drawing within 72-70 after a Johnson triple with 2:27 remaining. They would never tally another point as Kerr came up with a mid-court steal and breakaway lay-up and T-John Cassielo (four points, seven assists, no turnovers) closed out the scoring on a pair of foul shots with 24 seconds on the clock as the lead bounced between two and eight over the last 17:24. The Devils – who will host either Bloomfield or Caldwell in Saturday’s playoff opener after its regular-season finale at Georgian Court tomorrow – shot at a higher clip (50%-41%) and compiled three times as many assists (18) as turnovers (six), helping offset a disparity at the line (PU 18-21, US 8-11). Its six-game win streak broken, Philadelphia can still finish second with a home playoff game if it wins vs. Goldey-Beacom tomorrow and Holy Family falls at Chestnut Hill. Otherwise, Holy Family will get the home playoff game against either Post or Caldwell and Philly U. will travel to either Bloomfield or Post. Senior point guard Andre Gibbs finished with seven points – including the 1,000th of his career – as well as seven rebounds in defeat for the Rams, who saw all five starters reach the 40-minute mark, in effect (Jordan DiCicco subbed in for a few seconds, primarily on defense). Both these teams will be playing their third game in four days tomorrow.