Box Score
Site: Gallagher Center (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Final Score: Philadelphia University 74, Goldey-Beacom 53
Records: Goldey-Beacom (5-13, 2-8), Philadelphia University (11-6, 6-2)
Next GBC Event: Saturday, Jan. 26 vs. Post University | 3 p.m. | Joseph West Jones College Center (Wilmington, Del.)
Goldey-Beacom at Philadelphia University Box Score: HTML
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Senior guard
Jim Connolly (Souderton Area H.S./Harleysville, Pa.) scored a game-high 23 points and added five rebounds to lead Philadelphia University (11-6, 6-2) to its third straight win, a 74-53 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Goldey-Beacom College (5-13, 2-8) in a CACC South Division matchup at the Gallagher Center on Wednesday evening.
Connolly, who recorded his third 20-point game of the season, made 6 of 12 shots from the floor, including a four-for-eight performance from three-point range, while connecting on all seven free throws as the Rams ended a three-game losing streak against the Lightning.
After the Lightning jumped out to an early 5-4 lead in the opening 70 seconds of the game, the Rams put together a 13-2 run over the next seven minutes to take a commanding 17-7 lead with 11:33 remaining on a slam dunk by freshman forward
Peter Alexis (Holy Redeemer H.S./Wilkes-Barre, Pa.).
The Lightning trimmed the deficit to 22-16 with 7:04 remaining before a quick four-point spurt by the Rams upped their advantage to 26-16. The teams traded field goals three times to end the first half, giving Philadelphia University a 31-23 lead at the intermission.
Led by five points by Connolly, the Rams opened the second half by scoring 12 of the first 19 points to extend their cushion to 43-30 with 14:29 left on a free throw by Alexis. But, the Lightning put together a quick 7-0 spurt to narrow the gap to 43-37 with 11:34 remaining.
Philadelphia University answered by going on a 17-7 run over the next six minutes to expand the margin to 60-44. From there, the Rams never trailed by fewer than 14 points en route to the victory.
While Connolly led the Rams to the victory, Alexis added a “double double” by scoring 17 points with a game-high 13 rebounds. He made 8 of 15 shots from the floor and also contributed two blocked shots.
Sophomore guard
Marcus Porter (Howard H.S./Wilmington, Del.) led the Lightning in a losing effort by scoring 14 points with six rebounds. He made six of nine field goal attempts and also had two assists with two blocked shots.
Junior guard
A.J. Picard (Souderton Area H.S./Skippack, Pa.) and sophomore guard
Kyle Steinbergin (Teaneck H.S./Englewood, N.J.) each contributed 11 points for Goldey-Beacom, which dropped its sixth straight game.
The Lightning will return home on Saturday afternoon to host Post University at the Joseph West Jones College Center in the second game of a CACC basketball doubleheader at approximately 3 p.m. Meanwhile, the Rams will host Caldwell on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
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