One game on the docket Thursday, and it was a match-up of the first and last-place teams in the CACC South that went according to Hoyle:
PHILADELPHIA 84 GEORGIAN COURT 63
Josh Brandanese collected 20 of his personal-best 24 points in the first half to lead all five starters in double figures as Philadelphia pulled away early from Georgian Court in Lakewood for its fourth straight win and sole possession of first place in the CACC South. The Rams led the entire contest and were ahead 14-12 when Brandanese knocked down a 3-pointer (he was 3-5 from deep) to spark an 11-0 run and provide a 25-12 separation en route to a 49-28 halftime bulge. There would be little resistance over the final 20 minutes as Philadelphia maintained at least an 18-point advantage, which peaked at 72-42, as the starters accounted for all the scoring. Kaison Randolph totaled 19 points and eight rebounds, Andre Gibbs added 16 points and five assists, while two other Rams flirted with triple-doubles: 7-footer Malcolm Gilbert (14 points, nine rebounds, nine blocked shots) and rookie guard Kylan Guerra (11 points, personal-high 12 rebounds and seven assists in 40 minutes of action). Hamilton Capellan topped the Lions’ scorecard with 14 points (4-7 from beyond the arc), followed by Luka Lgonjanin (13 points, eight rebounds), Caleb Bowser (11 poiints, six boards, four assists in a reserve role) and Juwuan Carter (nine points, 10 rebounds). The Rams – who shot better overall (46%-33%), dominated in the paint (36-16) and did more work at the foul line (20-25 to 7-8) – can clinch a record sixth CACC South title in 10 years of divisional play with a win in either of their last two games or another loss by both Goldey-Beacom and Wilmington (those two play each other on Saturday and the latter closes out the regular season at Philly U.). Georgian Court has dropped a region-worst 18 consecutive games, although the hosts won the glass, 44-38, as small consolation. Both teams featured three different starters from their last encounter on December 6 and managed to post positive assist-turnover lines (PU 15/5, GCU 13/9).