City of Basketball Love

Madeline Pryor (@maddyyypryor)
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Having a Kerr make game-winning plays is nothing new for University of the Sciences.

Only now it’s Wes Kerr, the younger brother of former USciences star Garret Kerr, who’s the one playing hero for the Devils.

In the first conference game of the year against Philadelphia University, Kerr, a 6-foot-4 senior wing forward, contributed 13 points on the evening. But his most important contributions came with less than 10 seconds remaining.

With seven seconds to go, Kerr went 1-for-2 at the foul line, giving USciences a four-point lead. Just four seconds later, Kerr would go on to make a steal and get back to the free throw line, making another one.

Those plays sealed the win for USciences, which picked up its first CACC win, 60-55.

As a freshman, Kerr averaged 1.8 points and 10.4 minutes per game. Now, he’s a starting senior averaging 12 points per contest.

“I’ve been here a long time, over 33 years, and I can’t think of another player that has improved so much from freshman to senior year than Wes,” USciences head coach Dave Pauley said about Kerr, who has scored in double figures in each of the Devils’ first three games.

“He can guard, he can handle the ball, he’s a facilitator on offense,” Pauley added. “It’s his time, he’s a senior, the plays go through him.”

He’s certainly been waiting his time to shine behind an older brother who dominated stories about the D-II program the last two years.

Garret is now playing professionally in the Czech Republic after winning D-II National Player of the Year honors each of the last two seasons. Though the brothers are around the same height, they have different builds; Garret is more muscular and powerful, Wes somewhat more wiry and athletic.

Through three games, Wes is averaging 12 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Another senior, Sho Da-Silva, led the way with 18 points for the Devils (2-1, 1-0 CACC). Will Gregorits, a sophomore forward, netted 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. Senior point guard T-John Casiello added eight points, five assists, and three steals.

The score remained close throughout the entire game, with neither team leading by more than six points.

With 15:16 left in the game, Gregorits sunk two free throws, giving the Devils a 40-38 lead. This would be the last lead change of the game. The Devils gained its largest lead of six points soon after, behind a lay-up and a put-back from Flo Da-Silva.

Philly U (2-1, 0-1 CACC) came within one point of USciences twice before the Devils pulled away with Kerr’s big, last-second plays.

It was not only a close contest, but a gritty one, with a combined 37 fouls between the two teams.

“Philly U is always a great team...We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game going into it,” said Kerr, noting that there have been a number of close games between the two over his time at USciences.

Last year, two of the three games between them were decided by six points or less; the final matchup was a CACC Semifinal game, which ended in an 84-82 Philly U win in overtime. Both teams reached the NCAA Tournament last year, with the Rams losing in the opening round while the Devils made the Round of 32 before bowing out.

As for a budding rivalry, Pauley said: “I just have the utmost respect for them. To me, they’re the gold standard of Division II.”

The first half proved tough for USciences, when Philly U’s Eric Long made his first career start and went on to score eight points and grab five rebounds for the Rams. The 6-foot-7 sophomore finished with twelve points, ten rebounds, and two blocks.

“He was a really good defensive player,” said Kerr. He continued, “We were lucky enough to play good offense and get up good shots.”

Senior center Peter Alexis finished with a double-double for the Rams, scoring 14 points and taking down 12 rebounds. T.J. Huggins led Phila U in scoring with 15 points, while sophomore guard Kaison Randolph (11) rounded out the quartet in double figures.

The Devils were able to make the comeback and keep it throughout the second half due to its senior leaders, according to Pauley.

“I just think we played through our seniors,” he said. “Good teams really play through their seniors.”

Further, he noted, they “just played together as a team.” He added, “Trust your teammates...work together to get a stop defensively, work together to get a good shot. Try to play as one.”

Kerr agreed with Pauley’s sentiments, saying, “I think it was a great team win. I think we’re a team to watch out for. We’re getting better every game.”

USciences, now 2-1 on the season, faces Lincoln (Pa.) on Tuesday, November 24 at 7 p.m. The next match-up with Philly U takes place on February 9.