Boxscore
PIKE CREEK, Del. – Seven different Lightning players contributed to the scoring, including four in double-figures as the Goldey-Beacom College men's basketball team earned their second straight series win over Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference powerhouse, Philadelphia University, 68-55 on Tues. night at the Jones Center.
Senior guards Kyle White and Sam McDuffie tied for the team-high with 16 points, junior forward Terrence Parkes poured in 15, and junior Troy Esquilin posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go with a game-high four blocks.
Lightning head coach Chuck Hammond improved to 3-7 against his alma mater and GBC has now won two straight against the Rams.
GBC, after falling behind 28-23 in the first half, outscored Philadelphia 45-27 in the second half. The Lightning won the battle on the boards 36-33 and committed just nine turnovers to Philadelphia's 15. They turned those 15 turnovers in 18 points on the night.
Perhaps the most telling stat was the Lightning's free-throw shooting down the stretch. After making just 1-of-4 from the line in the first half, GBC was 11-for-13 from the line in the second half which helped them ice the game in the final few minutes. McDuffie was an impressive 6-for-6 from the charity stripe tonight.
The two teams combined for 11 lead changes and two ties in the first half, but it was Philadelphia who slightly outplayed the Lightning for the first 20 minutes. The Rams held a 17-16 rebounding advantage and shot 48.0 percent from the field to GBC's 35.7 as they took a five-point lead into the intermission.
The second half was a different story, however, as the Lightning outshot PU 48.4 percent to 37.0 percent, outrebounded the Rams 20-16 and forced 10 Philadelphia turnovers. They would outscored the Rams 45-27 in the closing half.
Philadelphia extended its lead to seven almost two minutes into the second half when the Lightning went on a 12-0 surge over the next three minutes to go up 39-33, and they would maintain the lead for the rest of the game.
A layup and then a three-pointer by Corey Francisco cut the lead back to one (39-38) at the 14:40 mark, but GBC responded with another mini-run to extend the lead back to eight.
The Rams twice came charging back into the game, closing to within two at the 9:37 mark and the 5:20 mark, but the Lightning had an answer both times. After letting Philadelphia close to 53-51, GBC closed out the game on a 15-4 run, aided by 9-for-10 shooting from the free-throw line down the stretch.
GBC is back in action on Thurs. night at 8 p.m. as the Lightning pay a visit to CACC foe Holy Family University.
