Kerr, Alexis Earn CACC Weekly Honors
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (February 18, 2013) – USciences' Garret Kerr has been selected as the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference's (CACC) Men's Basketball Player of the Week while Philadelphia's Peter Alexis earned Rookie of the week honors for the reporting period ending February 17, 2013 the Conference announced Monday.
CACC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Garret Kerr (So., G, Moorestown, N.J.) USciences – Major: Physical Therapy
Kerr recorded his 16th and 17th "double doubles" of the season in the Devils two victories last week. The physical therapy major recorded a career-high 21 rebounds, which equals the highest total in the CACC this season, in a 71-59 win over Chestnut Hill. Kerr followed that performance with a career-high 34 points in the Devils' 80-75 victory against Bloomfield to help his team pick up the program's first win over the Deacons in five years. Kerr's 34 point performance was his fourth 30-plus performance in his last six games.
On the week, the sophomore guard shot 51.3% from the field, 60.0% from behind the arc and 80.0% from the line. He also tallied seven assists, two steals and a block while averaging 25.5 points in his two games last week.
CACC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Peter Alexis (Fr., F, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) Philadelphia – Major: Psychology
Alexis averaged 19.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game to help his team to a 2-1 record last week. The freshman forward capped off the week with a career-high 35 points in an 81-80 overtime loss at Concordia (N.Y.) on Saturday. Alexis connected on an impressive 69.7% (23-33) of his shot attempts from the floor on the week. He also swatted 4 shots in a 68-60 victory over Wilmington while pulling in eight rebounds.
CACC MEN'S BASKETBALL HONORABLE MENTION
Leon Porter (Sr., G, Laurel, Md.) Dominican – Major: Criminal Justice
Porter averaged 22.0 ppg , 4.7 rpg and 4.3 assists per game in a 2-1 week that saw the Chargers pick up victories at Felician (88-77) and against Goldey-Beacom (89-69) while dropping a 98-95 triple overtime decision at Philadelphia. The Laurel, Maryland native shot 87% from the free throw line on the week, connecting on 20 of his 23 attempts. Porter recorded 33 points seven assists and three steals against Philadelphia.
Antoine Obery (Jr., G, Roselle, N.J.) Felician – Major: Criminal Justice
Obery averaged 21.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.5 steals in a 1-1 week for the Golden Falcons. The junior guard shot 71.4 percent from the field (15-21), including 6 for 6 against Dominican in an 88-77 loss on Feb. 12. Obery contributed 21 of his 23 points and 11 of his 18 rebounds in the second half of Felician's 94-83 victory at Chestnut Hill. The criminal justice major also had seven assists, five steals and four blocks on the week.
Norman Pope (Jr., G, Washington, D.C.) Concordia – Major: Business Administration
Pope averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 assists to lead the Clippers to a 2-0 week in the CACC. The junior from Washington D.C. scored his 1,000th career point on Tuesday in his 76th career game at Concordia to help his team down Caldwell, 91-77. Pope connected on 48.4% of his shots from the field and 58.3% of his attempts from distance.
CACC MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM NOTES
BLOOMFIELD - Bloomfield finished the week 1-1, picking up a come-from-behind victory over CACC North Division rival Post University Tuesday, February 12. Junior point guard Dondre Whitmore (Trenton, N.J.) totaled 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the win, helping key a 25-4 Bloomfield run to erase a second-half deficit and pick up the dramatic comeback victory. Whitmore continued his streak of stellar play in Bloomfield's Saturday loss to the University of the Sciences, totaling a career-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting in the setback. Sophomore shooting guard Marvin Williams (Jersey City, N.J.) led the Deacons with 18 points in the victory over Post, while fellow sophomore Matt Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.) notched 16 points off the bench in the win. Junior forward Kevin Udo (West Orange, N.J.) tallied his sixth double-double of the season in the win over Post, notching 12 points and 13 rebounds in the triumph. Fellow junior Mike Williams (Ewing, N.J.) rounded out the double-figure scorers in the club's loss to Sciences Saturday afternoon, totaling a season-high 17 points in the setback.
CALDWELL - The Cougars lost three CACC games last week, falling to Concordia and Chestnut Hill at home and losing at Wilmington on Saturday. Freshman guard Dawan Lighty scored a career-high 24 points in a 91-77 defeat to Concordia on Tuesday. He followed that up with 20 points against Chestnut Hill on Thursday. Sophomore forward Michael Balkovic recorded 21 points and 11 boards in a 75-72 loss to the Griffins. Sophomore guard Wyatt Polk led Caldwell with 22 points in an 81-73 loss to Wilmington. The Cougars wrap up CACC play this week with games at Bloomfield on Tuesday and Concordia on Saturday.
CHESTNUT HILL - Chestnut Hill College went 1-2 in a critical week of CACC play, earning a 75-72 win at Caldwell College on February 14, between a 71-59 loss at the University of the Sciences on February 12 and a 94-83 loss to Felician College on February 16. Against the Cougars, senior guards, Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) and Francis Ashe (Hyattsville, Md.) led the Griffins to victory. The Griffins led the Cougars by as many as 14 points, before the Cougars made things interesting by cutting gap to two-points (68-66) with 1:32 remaining. Ashe hit the clutch jumper that allowed the Griffins to secure the CACC victory from the free throw line.
CONCORDIA – Concordia captured two big conference wins last week and are now in fourth place in the CACC North Division standings. The Clippers began the week with a 91-77 win at Caldwell as senior Argelix Gil (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the team with 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field which included four three-point baskets and a game-high 13 rebounds in 37 minutes of action. Junior Norman Pope (Washington, D.C.) capped his historic night with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists as he is the ninth player to score 1,000 points for Concordia since 1990. Senior Brandon Whitaker (Harlem, N.Y.) came off the bench to score 18 points and added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Clippers while senior Lavor Morris (Bronx, N.Y.) added 15 points and four rebounds. On Saturday Concordia defeated Philadelphia U. 81-80 in overtime. Morris and Pope both led the Clippers with 22 points apiece. Pope added five steals, four rebounds and an assists while Gil added 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Whitaker came off the bench to score 10 points and added four rebounds and three assists. For the upcoming week, Concordia (12-14, 8-8 CACC) will close out their regular-season schedule with home games against Felician and Caldwell. If the Clippers earn a victory on Tuesday against the Golden Falcons they will lock up the fourth seed in the North Division.
DOMINICAN – The Chargers posted a 2-1 record this week to now stand at 20-5 overall and 14-3 in conference play. On Saturday the team honored six seniors: Leon Porter, Daniel Woods, Preston Smith, Gerald Hill, Tyler Stradford and Cory Quimby. With Saturday's victory over Goldey-Beacom College, the Chargers clinched the CACC North Division Title and became the East Region's first team to reach 20 victories this season.
FELICIAN - Felician remained in control of its playoff fate with Saturday's victory at Chestnut Hill. The Golden Falcons would qualify as the North No. 4 seed with wins in their final two games. Senior guard Anthony D. Green set career scoring highs twice last week, with 27 in a loss to Dominican on Tuesday, then scored 30 at Chestnut Hill Saturday. Sophomore forward JR Pringley exploded for a career-high 26 points against the Griffins. Felician's 94 points at Chestnut Hill were a team season-high.
GOLDEY-BEACOM – The Lightning split a pair of games against CACC North Division opponents last week to improve their record to 8-16 overall and 4-11 in the CACC. After edging Nyack by a 72-62 margin on Wednesday, the Lightning dropped a tough 89-69 decision against Dominican on Saturday afternoon as the Chargers celebrated Senior Day. Junior guard A.J. Picard led the Lightning last week by averaging 18.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He scored 19 points in the win over Nyack before contributing 17 points against Dominican on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, senior forward Lawrence Livingston matched a season high by scoring 13 points against the Chargers. The Lightning will finish their season this week with a pair of home games against CACC South Division foes. Goldey-Beacom will host Philadelphia University on Tuesday night before welcoming Holy Family to the Jones Center on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day.
HOLY FAMILY – Holy Family moved into first place in the CACC South Division with its win over visiting Nyack (74-64) on Saturday in the team's lone game of the week. The Tigers enter their final week of the season leading Philadelphia by one-half game in the South Division. Senior Angel Ayala recorded his second double-double of the season after leading the Tigers with 20 points and 11 rebounds versus the Warriors. It marked the second straight game that Ayala has scored 20 points and his third straight game that he scored in double-figures. Junior Ervin Ezell also scored in double-figures with 17 points and had a game-high five steals on the defensive end.
PHILADELPHIA – Close games and overtime games defined last week for the Rams (15-8, 10-4 CACC). Philadelphia opened the week with a 68-60 win over Wilmington (Del.) on Feb. 12. Sophomore guard Nick Schlitzer (Pottsville, Pa.) paced Philadelphia with 18 points in the victory. Two days later, senior guard Jim Connolly (Harleysville, Pa.) netted 30 points, 21 after regulation, to help the Rams knock off Dominican (N.Y.) 98-95 in triple overtime. It was Philadelphia longest game since a four-overtime loss to the College of Saint Rose on March 15, 2008. Freshman forward Peter Alexis (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) capped off the week with a career-high 35 points in an 81-80 overtime loss to Concordia (N.Y.) on Saturday. For the week, Alexis averaged 19.7 ppg and 8.0 rpg, while Connolly finished with 16.3 ppg. Philadelphia travels to Goldey-Beacon on Tuesday, and Wilmington (Del.) on Saturday.
USCIENCES - The Devils won both of their games this week, defeating Chestnut Hill on Tuesday and Bloomfield College on Saturday to clinch a spot in upcoming CACC Tournament. Sciences' win over Bloomfield was their first against the Deacons since the 2007-08 season. Garret Kerr recorded double-doubles in both games to bring his season total to 17 (38 in 48 career games). He also pulled down a career-high 21 rebounds vs. Chestnut Hill and followed it up with an 18 rebound effort vs. Bloomfield and recorded a career-high 34 points against the Deacons. Kerr now leads the East Region in both scoring and rebounding.
Shofolarin DaSilva also had a career-high scoring performance against Bloomfield, tossing in a career high 22 points to help secure the win for the Devils. Kerr's last rebound against Bloomfield was the 600th of his career, becoming the 17th, and fastest player in school history to reach the plateau, achieving the mark in just 48 games (previous fastest was Gilbert D'Alonzo who reached 600 in his 50th game in 1968-69). Sciences will conclude their regular season on the road this week with games at Post University and Chestnut Hill College.
WILMINGTON - The Wildcats went 1-1 this past week, falling on the road at Philadelphia after hold a halftime lead and then defeating Caldwell on Saturday to snap a seven-game losing streak. Brandon Fox and Herb Dennis averaged 15 points per game each for the week, with Fox scoring a week high 17 points in the victory over Caldwell on Saturday. Wilmington used hot second half shooting to get by Caldwell at home, going 15-for-27 in the second stanza. Dennis scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half to lead the comeback. This week, the Wildcats will make up a game with Bloomfield on Thursday before celebrating Senior Night on Saturday against Philadelphia.