Lakewood, N.J. - A short-range jumper off the back iron at the buzzer left the Georgian Court University men's basketball squad screaming "bah humbug" Tuesday evening as the Lions kicked off Christmas break in the sourest of ways, falling to Goldey-Beacom College, 71-70, in the GCU Wellness Center.

The Lions (0-11, 0-3 CACC) jumped out to an immediate 7-0 lead to start the contest, forcing a hysteric Goldey-Beacom coaching staff to take a timeout. GCU would not relent, however, as the home team expanded its advantage to a game-high ten points (12-2), courtesy of an Omar Williams free throw at the 15:26 mark. 

An 11-2 run by GBC, capped by a Justin Salem (So.-Mahwah, N.J.) three-pointer at 13:01, put the Lightning to within one at 14-13. The home team continued to hold strong as the Lions increased its surplus back to eight after a pair of Caleb Bowser free throws with 3:45 left in the half.

After coming out of intermission down by one (31-30), Goldey-Beacom opened the second stanza with a 12-3 spurt to go ahead, 42-34, just 3:57 into the frame. The Lions refused to fold as they took off on an incredible 17-0 sprint to take a momentum-changing, 51-42 lead at the 10:09 mark.

Georgian Court began to bend, but would not break, as the Lightning climbed to within one (53-52) at 8:02. A Marcellus Livingston (Fr.-Linden, N.J.) jumper at 4:30 tied the contest at 58-58, the first of four different stalemates that would occur of the next 4+ minutes. Williams popped a clutch three-pointer with 0:28 left to put GCU even at 70-70. However, a simple Corey Taite (Jr.-Sayreville, N.J.) free throw with five ticks remaining provided the single point needed to seal the GBC road win.

GCU doubled up the Lightning in team rebounds (48-to-24) and out-shot its guest, 43.4% to 33.9%, from the floor. Unfortunately, they fell short in the column that mattered most.

Four Lightning lit up the scoring column with double-digit efforts, topped by Taite's 19 points. Juwuan Carter compiled his first double-double of the season, pacing the Lions with 15 points and 11 boards. Bowser also secured 15 points in the effort while Williams drained 13 for GCU.

The Lions return to the floor on Saturday, December 30 with a 3:00 p.m. divisional home game vs. Chestnut Hill College.