PHILADELPHIA – After trailing by double-digits in the first half, the University of the Science men's basketball team rallied to get within two at the break before taking a lead early in the second in an eventual 78-64 loss to Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday night at Bobby Morgan Arena.

The Devils took the first of three second half leads, 37-36, on Thomas Melonja's jumper 5:20 out of the locker room.

After trading the next five baskets, Connor Murphy tied the game with a three-point play before assisting Jordan White's dunk that tied the score one final time, 46-46, with 10:44 to play.

Goldey-Beacom would hit a 3-pointer the next trip down the court to take the lead for good, eventually building another double-digit advantage, 63-52, with 4:48 remaining.

Still trailing by double-digits, 64-54, 1:29 later, Sean Simon led one final push with five straight points before a Paddy Casey 3-pointer with 2:05 showing made it a four-point game, 66-62, but USciences could not make it a one-possession game again.

The Devils actually got a stop on the ensuing possession, only to turn the ball over.

That was the story of the night as 25 University of the Sciences turnovers led to Goldey-Beacom outscoring the Devils 28-17 in points off turnovers, despite USciences recording a season-best 12 steals.

The Lightning also shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58), compared to USciences' 35.1 percent (20-of-57), and outscored the Devils 44-20 in the paint.

Melonja recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and game and season-highs of 10 rebounds and two blocks, while also leading USciences with a season-best three steals.

White and Javon Gordon were also in double-figures with 14 and 11 points, while Simon and Casey came off the bench to scored nine and eight, respectively.

Murphy finished with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting to make it six Devils to score at least eight points, and he led University of the Sciences with five assists.

Goldey-Beacom scored eight unanswered to take its first double-digit advantage, 22-12, 8:33 into the action but USciences slowly fought its way back into the game, and Gordon scored four points in an 8-2 half-ending surge that got the Devils within two points, 32-30, when Simon closed the period with two free throws.

The two teams then traded four baskets out of the locker room before Melonja's jumper put University of the Sciences on top for the first time since the 16:13 mark of the first half.

The Devils are back at home on Saturday to host Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) North Division leader Dominican at 3 p.m.