The University of the Sciences men’s basketball team tied the school record with their 13th consecutive win and handed head coach David Pauley his 200th career win, holding off an improved Georgian Court University squad 72-59 Tuesday night in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Pauley, now in his 15th season becomes the second men’s basketball coach in program history to amass 200 career wins, joining former coach Bob Morgan who won 598 games from 1968-2000 when the school was a member of the NAIA. Pauley was an assistant under Morgan for 18 of those seasons before assuming the head coaching duties at the start of the 2000-2001 season.
The Devils are now 23-4 overall and finish the regular season with a 17-2 record in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games. The team’s 23 wins is the most since the 1997-98 season (25-4) and their 17 conference wins is a school record. (also ties the CACC mark for most conference wins).
For the second consecutive game, two Devils players scored 20 or more points as Garret Kerr (Middle Township HS/Avalon, N.J.) and Sho Da-Silva (Bishop Eustace HS/Moorestown, N.J.) each had 22 points. Kerr also notched his 24th double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, while adding five assists and three steals. Da-Silva shot 8-11 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds.
It was the Lions that came out roaring to start the game connecting on eight of their first 13 shots to forge a 22-13 lead nine minutes into the game. The Devils still trailed by nine 24-15 when the produced a 13-3 spurt to take their first lead 28-27 with 3:45 left in the half, with Da-Silva provided the spark with seven of the 13 points including a basket AND-1 to cap it off. GCU’s Chris Polanco briefly put the Lions back on top with a three-point field goal before Kerr scored the Devils last six points to give his team a 34-32 lead at the break.
Three lead changes in the opening six minutes in the second saw the Lions again holding a slim one point lead 42-41. Da-Silva followed with two free throws to put Sciences back on top, starting what would be a 23-7 uprising to put the Devils in control 64-49 with 6:11 left in the game. The Devils lead never dropped below double figures the rest of the way with the Lions only coming as close at ten points.
Keith hushes led the Lions with 17 points (6-9 FG, 4-6 FT) and seven rebounds. Jordan Wejnert added 12 points.
Sciences shot better (48%-40.8%) and held a solid 37-25 advantage on the boards. Sciences did commit one more turnover than the Lions but dished out 15 assists to GCU’s six.
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