Box Score
WATERBURY, Conn. – Despite a strong effort, the Post University men's basketball team dropped its first home game in a month as it fell to Philadelphia 81-73 on Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps the Eagles' four-game home winning streak.
Seniors
Stephen Perry Jr. (Westhampton, N.J.) and
Devin Willis (Seattle, Wash.) led a balanced attack with 15 points each. Senior
Derrick Strong (St. Louis, Mo.) added 13 points and a team-high five boards. Junior
AJ Harris (Inglewood, Calif.) led all players with seven assists.
Neither team could gain an advantage throughout most of the game as the deficit was never more than five for either squad. Post found itself down 50-46 with 12:50 remaining after a three-pointer by Andre Gibbs. Willis hit from long distance on each of the Eagles' next three possessions to put Post in front by two. Senior
Zach Krischer (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) made a jumper off a Rams' turnover the next time down the court to extend the advantage to 57-53 with 10:09 left.
Philadelphia slowly chipped away and took the lead for good with 7:58 remaining in the game on a jumper by Derek Johnson. Strong hit two from the line with 3:21 left to cut the deficit to one before the Rams hit from distance on each of their next three possessions to build a 75-70 advantage.
Perry Jr. brought the Eagles within two with just over a minute remaining, but Post would not get any closer down the stretch. Philadelphia did not miss a shot over the final 3:38 of the contest.
The Eagles turned the ball over a season-low four times, their least amount of giveaways since last year's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament loss to Philadelphia. Post grabbed an impressive 16 offensive boards, but was outrebounded 37-30 overall.
Post hits the road for a key CACC North Division matchup on Tuesday, February 11 against Caldwell. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
