Kerr’s Career Night cannot Cool Rams

Garret Kerr got his first career start as a member of the University of the Sciences men's basketball program on Saturday and did not disappoint, recording career highs in points and rebounds.  However, Kerr's prowess was no match for the collective long range shooting of the Philadelphia University squad as they handed the Devils their third straight loss, 78-56 at the Bobby Morgan Arena. 

The loss drops the Devils to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games.  The Rams improve to 5-4 overall and 3-0 in league play. 

Kerr (Middle Township HS/Moorestown, N.J.) connected on 12 of 15 shots from the field and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line en route to a career-high 30 points.  He added 15 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Garret becomes the first USciences player to record 30 points in a game since Jeff Miller did the trick back on March 5, 2004 with a 35-point effort against Teikyo Post University (now just Post University). Brian Boyle (Monsignor Bonner HS/Drexel Hill, Pa.) came off the bench to add nine points. 

The Rams placed four of their five starters in double figures while making a season-high 15 three-point field goals (10 in the first half alone).  Jim Connolly had six of those triples enroute to a team-high 24 points.  Corey Francisco added 20 points (4-5 3 FG) while Nick Schlitzer added 16 and nick Christian 12.  Francisco and Connolly both had eight rebounds while Christian dished out nine assists. 

This game was essentially over early as the Rams, who trailed 6-4 five minutes into the half, used runs of 13-4 and 26-6 with a Boyle '3-ball' in between the two to  finish the half with a 39-13 tear and a 24-point lead 43-19. 

Philadelphia extended the lead to 32 with a 15-7 spurt to open the second half.  A traditional 3-point play by Kerr stopped the bleeding temporarily and made the score 58-29. The Rams still led by 31 when the Devils produced a 9-0 run to pull within 24, 62-40 at the 7:52 mark, with Kerr getting five of the Devils nine points in the effort.   The lead bounced between 20 and 26 the rest of the way with Kerr adding eight more points to his total and PU's Connolly completing a four-point play with 4:50 left to go.  Kerr had 22 of the Devils 37 points and 12 of the Devils 20 rebounds in the half to complete his double-double.  Boyle closed out the game with two free throws to make the final margin 22, 78-56. 

The Rams 15 three-point field goals produced a 45-3 scoring margin as the devils managed to only hit one triple the entire game.  Overall Philadelphia outshot the Devils 50%-40% and also shot 50% from three-point range (15-30).   Both teams shot exceptionally well from the free throw line with the Devils making 15 of 18 (83.3%) and the Rams 11 of 13 (84.6%).   The Devils held a slight edge on the glass 30-28 but committed 13 turnovers (7 assists) to just nine for PU (17 assists).

The Devils return to action on Monday, December 19, 2011 when they face off at East Stroudsburg University.  Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.