JOLIET --- University of St. Francis saw a six-point lead in the closing 27 seconds of regulation evaporate before being outscored 8-2 in overtime in dropping an 83-77 decision to Purdue University Calumet Friday night at the Rec Center.

Two critical fouls in a three-second span (:22 and :19) by the Saints kept Purdue Calumet alive as the Peregrines turned both mistakes into four free throws to cut the deficit to three points, 74-71, with 19 seconds to play.

Purdue Calumet (1-6) then forced a turnover six seconds later, which it turned into two more free throws before USF's Greg Leavell (Schoolcraft College/Farmington Hills, MI) finally broke up the run by hitting the front end of a one-and-one with six seconds left. Leavell, however, missed the second shot and PUC point guard Aaron Evans, who made the final six free throws in regulation for the guests, found an opening in the paint on the other end of the court for a layup just before the buzzer to force a 75-all tie.

Evans, who accounted for all eight Peregrine points in the 27-second span, finished the night with a game-high 20 points, 14 of which came at the free throw line in 16 attempts.

"We just made some grave errors at the end of the game, which we normally haven't done in our history and they just capitalized," said USF head coach Pat Sullivan. "I don't know what else to say."

Purdue Calumet then went on to score the first seven points in the overtime to build its biggest lead of the night, 82-75, before the Saints snapped an 0-for-8 streak from the field in the overtime with a Robbie Butcher (Stagg H.S./Orland Park, IL) layup with 33 seconds to play. That would account for USF's only points in the extra session as the Saints missed two more field goal attempts to finish 1-for-11 in the extra period, not to mention 0-for-4 from the foul line.

While the game was tight most of the way, the Saints actually opened the contest on a 15-3 run for the biggest lead of the night. Purdue Calumet got as close as one point three separate times in the first half before going into the break trailing 36-33.

USF finally relinquished its lead for the first time with 11:54 to play (45-44) and from there it was no more than a four-point lead for either side over the next six minutes. Dan Dispenza's (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) second of two layups in the second half produced the biggest advantage after the break, 65-58, but the Saints were not able to hang on to the lead over the final five minutes.

The Saints (2-9) get right back at it Saturday night hosting Judson University in a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at the Rec Center to close out a three-game homestand.