Philadelphia, Pa.- Coming off Saturday's thrilling victory at Queens College, the Georgian Court University men's basketball team hoped to bring that same mojo into Gallagher Center Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, it was host-Philadelphia University that would prevail as the Rams bested the visiting Lions, 81-69, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) divisional action.

It was a closely contested first half as neither team owned a lead of more than three points until a Peter Alexis (Sr.-Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) jumper put Philly ahead by four (23-19) with 7:52 remaining before intermission. The Rams would pick up the tempo over the remainder of the period, outscoring the Lions, 20-15, the rest of the way.

A 15-8 run to start the second stanza pulled the Lions to within two (51-49) at the 12:49 mark, but Philadelphia (5-1, 1-1 CACC) would not relinquish its advantage as the Rams built its lead to a dozen on two seperate occasions in the final seconds of regulation.

Alexis topped the victors with 22 points, shooting 8-of-10 from the floor. Fellow senior, TJ Huggins (Alexandria, Va.), provided a double-double with his 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Brendan Kilpatrick  (Jr.-Norristown, Pa.) followed with 14 points while Eric Long (So.-Bronx, N.Y.) and Kaison Randolph (So.-Trenton, N.J.) added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Nikola Vujovic established a new GCU individual season-high with his 25 points, going 9-for-14 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Keith Hughes garnered his second double-double of the year with 17 points and team-best 10 boards.

The Lions (1-4, 0-2 CACC) return to the hardwood next Wednesday, December 2, with another conference divisional showdown, this time at Chestnut Hill College. Start time is slated for 8:00 p.m.