BLOOMFIELD, N.J.- The Bloomfield College men's basketball team had their three game winning streak snapped by Philadelphia University in a 78-72 loss Thursday evening. Senior guard Marvin Williams (Jersey City, N.J.) led the Bears with a game-high 26 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Junior forward Claude Blue (Brooklyn, N.Y.) notched a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the setback.
 
Bloomfield (11-13, 10-7 CACC) got off to a good start, going up 12 -7 with 14:26 to play in the opening period with Williams scoring all 12 points for the Bears. The lead wouldn't stand for long thanks to a 17-4 run by the Rams, capped off by a Nick Schlitzer (Pottsville, P.A.) three-pointer, giving the visitors a 26-16 lead at the 8:22 mark. Williams kept the Bears in the game with his 17 first half points on 7-of-11 shooting, sending his team into the break down just three (35-32) after hitting a three as the first half came to a close.
 
Philadelphia University's Hall of Fame head coach, Herb McGee kept his starting lineup in for the entire first half, as the five players shot 46 percent from the field and only committed two fouls. Magee ended up playing his starters all 40 minutes of the game to pick up the victory over the Bears.
 
Bloomfield came out of the break and took the lead back at the 14:06 minute mark after Blue converted a layup in the paint that made it 47-46. The Bears pushed their lead to five (54-49) after a couple of baskets by Williams who carried his hot hand into the start of the final period. Bloomfield's offense was more efficient in the second half, shooting 50 percent from the floor in the second frame, after shooting just 38 percent in the first.
 
The Rams came charging back after a Derek Johnson (Conshohocken, P.A.) three-pointer tied the game at 56-56. Philly extended to a five point lead (67-62) with 5:27 remaining in the game.
 
Bears forward, Nick Davidson (Lumberton, N.J.) heated up and cut the Philadelphia University lead to one (71-70) after drilling a shot from downtown. Davidson provided a nice spark off the bench, scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Schlitzer drilled a three, giving the Rams a 74-70 lead with just forty-two seconds remaining in the game. Philadelphia University (19-6, 13-3 CACC) converted from the line to put the contest out of reach. Schlitzer finished the game with 21 points and his teammate Johnson, finished his night with a team-high 22 points.
 
In his postgame interview Bloomfield College Head Coach Gerald Holmes said that his squad's missed free throws had a big impact on the outcome of the game. The Bears got to the line just eight times and converted on only three of their opportunities.
 
Bloomfield returns to action this Saturday, February 21st as they travel to USciences in Philadelphia for a 3:00pm battle with the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South Division leader. Bloomfield looks to get back in the win column and keep their CACC playoff position intact.
 
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(story written by Mark Reyes - Sports Information Department intern)