USP Holds Off UDC for Win

Adewale Adefemi recorded his sixth double double of the season and Omari Phillip recorded a career-high 16 points as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's basketball team hung on to defeat the University of the District of Columbia 58-54 at the Bobby Morgan Arena in Philadelphia Thursday night.

The Devils improve to 5-11 with the win. The Firebirds fall to 1-16.

Adefemi scored 17 points (5-10 FG, 7-7 FT) while pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Phillip connected on five of nine shots from the field (4-7 3FG) and was also perfect from the free throw line en route to a new career high of 16 points. Curtis Fitch added nine points and nine rebounds while Will Kernan dished out a game high seven assists.

Kenneth James led all scorers with 25 points and a team-high five rebounds. Tim Ellison added 15 points and also had five rebounds. ellison also recorded a game-high three steals.

The Devils led by five at the 11:33 mark of the first half, 15-10 when the Firebirds scored six straight points to take a 16-15 lead. A layup by Adefemi and a trey from Fitch quickly put the Devils back up by four. A short jumper from Myer Messinger boosted the lead to its biggest margin of the half, six points, 22-16 with 5:35 left before the Firebirds sliced that deficit in half by the end of the period, 27-24.

The Devils opened the second half with a 15-6 spurt to take a 12-point lead 42-30 at the 13:10 mark. Nine of the 15 points came on three three-pointers from Phillip. USP still held a nine point lead 44-35 with 10:56 left when the Firebirds scored eight unanswered points to pull within one 44-43 with 7:29 left. A 3-ball from Kernan and a traditional three-point play from Adefemi put the margin at seven 50-43 before the Firebirds made on last run, outscoring the Devils 9-4 over the next 3:29 to pull within two 54-52 with 1:45 left. Both teams did not score on the their next possession as the Devils secured the ball with under a minute left. UDC started to foul as the Devils took off precious seconds from the game clock as UDC pushed to reach the seven-foul mark and put the Devils on the line. Phillip went to the line with 15 seconds left and made a pair of free throws to make the score 56-52. James then made a driving layup to pull UDC within two but Adefemi sank the last of his two free throws with two seconds left to seal the deal and give the Devils a 58-54 win.

Free throws, usually the bane of the Devils were not an adventure on this night as USP was a perfect 11-for-11 from the foul line. UDC made 9-12 from the charity stripe. Both teams shot nearly identical from the field (21-47 (44.7%) for UDC/20-45 (44.4%) for USP) but the Devils made four more three point field goals non the night (7-19/ 3-10). USP also held a 30-22 advantage on the glass. The Devils committed 14 turnovers to UDC's nine but dished out 12 assists (UDC had seven).

The game saw only 11 players take to the floor during the 40 minutes of playing time. The Firebirds came into the game with just five men on their roster and the Devils used just six players. Nine of the 11 players were on the floor the entire 40 minutes.

The Devils return to action on Saturday, January 30, 2010 when they host dominican college in a CACC crossover contest. Tip off is set for 3:00 p.m.