Lakewood, N.J.- A Keith Hughes lay-up with 1.7 seconds remaining provided Georgian Court University a slim 64-63 advantage that they would not relinquish as the Lions  secured their first victory of the 2016-17 season in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) divisional showdown vs. the University of the Sciences.

After entering intermission with a 31-24 lead, the Devils (1-9, 0-3 CACC) increased its positive margin to 15 after a JJ Melchior (Fr.-Lansdale, Pa.) three-pointer put USciences ahead, 43-28, with 15:49 remaining. Only 25 ticks were left on the clock when the Lions (1-7, 1-3 CACC) snared their first lead of the game after a Tony Ellington, Jr. jumper put the home team ahead, 62-61. 

The euphoria would be short-lived as Patrick Kugel (Sr.-Margate, N.J.) hushed the GCU faithful with a go-ahead jumper with only eight seconds to go. The stage was now set for Hughes as the cagey senior rolled in a layup from the right side of the glass to cinch the triumph.

Hughes, after scoring the 1,000th point of his career in his last outing (11/30 at Goldey-Beacom), poured in a season-best 21 points in the win, drilling 9-of-16 from the floor. Juwuan Carter followed with nine points of his own while Hughes and Caleb Bowser shared the team-high in rebounds with six apiece.

Will Gregorits (Jr.-Burke, Va.) and Jon McGill (Sr.-Folsom, Pa.) paced the visitors with 16 points each.

Head Coach Terrence Stewart, after his first victory at the helm for GCU, hopes to now carry some momentum into the Lions' next contest, which will be a tough CACC divisional contest at Philadelphia University Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m.