LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The USciences men's basketball team opened Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) play in thrilling fashion, ending the game on a 9-0 run over the final 1:53 to overcome Georgian Court for its first win, 69-65, of the season on Saturday afternoon. 

The comeback resulted in Head Coach Michael Connors' first victory at University of the Sciences. 

Connors and his Devils, who had led by many as 11 in the first half, had to work for the victory as it faced its largest deficit of the afternoon, 65-60, on a GCU layup with 2:15 remaining.  

Austin Kennedy hit a 3-pointer 22 seconds later though, before his layup with 1:10 left tied the score at 65.  

University of the Sciences got a second straight defensive stop, and Matthew McCaffrey calmly hit two free throws after being fouled with just 14 seconds to go. 

The Devils needed one final stop, and they got it as Georgian Court missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds. 

In addition to hitting the game-winning free throws, McCaffrey led all players with five assists. 

Jordan Davidson (6-of-11 field goals and career-best 4-of-5 3-pointers) and Sean Simon (5-of-9 field goals and 3-of-3 free throws) each had a team-high 16 points.

Davidson added a game-high three steals, tying a career-best, while Simon notably moved into seventh in program history with 132 career triples. 

Tommy Gardler played a huge role off the bench, leading USciences with six rebounds while scoring 13 points on near-perfect shooting (4-of-5 field goals, 2-of-2 3-pointers and 3-of-3 free throws) in just 12 minutes.

Fellow reserve Joemel McNair added eight points on 3-of-5 shooting as the USciences bench outscored Georgian Court's 21-0.

University of the Sciences had its best shooting game of the season in all three phases; 46.2 percent from the floor, 47.8 percent from beyond the arc and 76.9 percent from the free throw line.  

Kennedy was also in double-figures with 10 points.  

USciences scored the game's first six points as Davidson made back-to-back 3-pointers in the opening minute, and the Devils led by double-digits, 12-2, just 5:17 in when Simon made a triple of his own. 

The advantage reached a game-high 11, 19-8, on McNair's with layup with 12:04 showing, and the Devils led by five-plus points until GCU made it a four-point game, 33-29, with the final five points of the half. 

The Lions tied the game for the first time, 42-42, 5:42 out of the locker room, and took their first lead, 48-45, with 11:50 to go. 

University of the Sciences regained the lead for the first time, 55-53, on a Davidson layup with 6:04 remaining, but GCU took it back on the next trip down the floor and the Lions would lead until Kennedy's five straight points. 

The Devils hosts their first CACC contest on Tuesday, beginning a three-game home-stand when it welcomes Wilmington to Bobby Morgan Arena for a 5:30 p.m. tip.