GORHAM, Maine   –  Senior guard Tyler Kelley (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) scored 27 points to lead four players in double-figures as the St. Joseph's College Monks rallied from a second half deficit to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies 81-75 in a non-conference men's basketball game Sunday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.

            With the win the Monks improve to 3-0 and secure possession of the Costello Cup, presented to the winner of the annual contest between the two schools.  Contested over the last 22 years, the Costello Cup honors the late Richard "Doc" Costello, former USM Athletic Director and long-time basketball coach.  The loss stops a four-game winning streak for Southern Maine and drops its record to 4-1. 

            Kelley was an outstanding 11-for-14 from the field, and added four rebounds and four steals.  Junior guard Chris Petzy (Kensington, N.H./Exeter) added 19 points on 5-for-12 shooting.  Junior guard Zach O'Brien (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) added 12 points, six rebounds a game-high six assists, while senior forward Anthony Savino (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) tossed in 10 points an grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. 

            Southern Maine senior guard Corteze Isaac (Germantown, Md/Northwest) matched Kelley for game-high scoring honors with 27 points, four rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.  Senior guard Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Ocoee) added 13 points and six rebounds.  Junior forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) and senior guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) each scored seven points.

            Trailing by four, 62-58, with 8:15 to play, Kelley and Petzy combined to score 16 of the Monks final 23 points to earn the win.  In a closely contested match with nine tie scores and five lead changes, Petzy's three pointer with 7:21 to play game the Monks a narrow 63-62 lead, which they would not relinquish the rest of the game.

            Southern Maine pulled to within one of the Monks twice in the final minutes of action.  Jellison's three with 2:54 to play left the score at 72-71 in favor of the Monks.  However, St. Joseph's outscored the Huskies 8-4 down the stretch, including four points from Kelley, for the 81-75 final.

            Southern Maine travels to Bowdoin College on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).  St. Joseph's travels to Husson University on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.).