Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (2/4/2015) – The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team took a spirited shot at crosstown rival University of the Sciences (USciences) in tonight's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) matchup, closing to within 34-31 on back-to-back 3-pointers by sophomore guard Billy Cassidy (Primos, Pa.) late in the first half. Unfortunately, the Devils would not be denied, closing the half strong and gradually pulling away after the break to secure a 78-62 result and a CACC playoff spot. Senior center Filip Sekulic (Danilovgrad, Montenegro) scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half to keep the Griffins close, but ultimately the home side suffered its sixth straight loss.
 
Chestnut Hill College (4-16, 3-10) pounded the ball inside to Sekulic from the opening tip, as the 6-10 center opened the scoring with a powerful move inside and hit seven of his first eight shots. USciences (17-4, 11-2) led by as many as 10 (28-18) on a bucket by senior forward Garret Kerr (Moorestown, N.J.) with 4:48 left in the half, but Cassidy caught fire, draining a trio of trifectas to pull the Griffins to within three points, 34-31 (1:26). The Devils, however, responded with a 7-0 run spanning halftime to keep Chestnut Hill College at arm's length.
 
The Griffins twice got as close as seven in the second half, the last on a layup by freshman forward Edward McWade (Wildwood, N.J.) with 11:52 to play, 49-42. As he usually does, Kerr had the answer for the Devils, sandwiching a pair of buckets around one by freshman forward Will Gregorits (Burke, Va.) to restore a 13-point margin, 55-42, with 8:36 remaining. The spread vacillated between 11 and 17 the rest of the way.
 
Kerr narrowly missed a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in addition to four steals, though he did commit seven turnovers. Junior guard Dylan Kerwin (Basking Ridge, N.J.) proved deadly from behind the arc, going 4-for-5 (80%) on 3-pointers to finish with 16 points. Junior guard Sho Da-Silva (Moorestown, N.J.) hit for 15 points and Gregorits collected 12. USciences shot 52.1% (25-of-49) from the field, including 16-of-29 (55.2%) in the first half, and improved to 13-1 when holding opponents under 65 points.
 
Sekulic finished 8-for-11 (72.7%) from the field en route to hitting double figures for the first time in 12 contests. Cassidy joined him in double digits with 13 on a 4-for-5 (80%) showing from downtown, also adding three assists and four steals. Junior guard Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.) contributed seven points, four assists, and three steals for the Griffins, who were undone by 24 turnovers. Junior forward Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.), six points and seven boards, and sophomore forward Gerald Evariste (Philadelphia, Pa.), six rebounds and a block, were active on the glass for Chestnut Hill College.
 
Chestnut Hill College looks to snap its skid with a trip to Nyack College on Saturday, February 7, for a 3:00 p.m. CACC contest.