Men's Basketball Finishes East Region Challenge in 82-63 Win Over Host American International

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (2-0) ended the East Region Challenge as they took on host American International College (0-2) in Sunday afternoon action. The Rams shot 57.6% on the floor and 56.3% from beyond the arc as Jefferson took a 82-63 win over Yellow Jackets. 

WHAT HAPPENED

• Ashton Miller started the day off with two three-pointer, beginning the start of his career-high 30 points on the day 

• American Internation got out to lead 12-8, but the Rams push a 9-3 run that got them ahead once again. Justin Hawkins and Jeremiah Dorsey hit their shots while Shane Cercone gets his shot from beyond the arc make the basket 

• After the Yellow Jackets got up 26-20, the Rams put together a 14-0 run led by Miller with seven points, Cercone with five, and Hawkins with his two 

• Miller puts the touch on his 18-point first half performance with a three pointer to get Jefferson up 37-31 heading into the half 

• Rams showed up in the second half, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 45-32. Jefferson shot 66.7% on the floor from 20-of-30 shooting 

• Miller opens the half with six points while Dorsey and Hawkins make a basket apiece 

• Kayne Wavezwa hit a three for American International, but another six point run for Jefferson kept their lead in check 

• Moustapha got his first points as a Ram with a dunk. Farouk Kaba followed behind with two made free throws 

• A 10-2 Yellow Jackets run got them as close as 13, but the Rams never let up with Isaiah Thomas-McClain, Dorsey, and Kaba all making their shots from beyond the arc as a 21-15 advantage for the last 9:49 minutes helped them with an 82-63 win over American International 

TEAM STATS 
FG: 34-of-59 (57.6%) 
3PT: 9-of-16 (56.3%) 
FT: 5-of-6 (83.3%) 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 
Ashton Miller: 30 points (career-high) on 13-of-18 shooting (4-5 3PT), 9 rebounds, 7 assists (career-high), 3 steals 
Justin Hawkins: 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 1-2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals 
Farouk Kaba: 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting (1-1 3PT), 3 rebounds, 2 steals 
Jeremiah Dorsey: 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting (1-3 3PT), 2 rebounds 

2-0 START
Jefferson begins their season off to a 2-0 start. This is the first time that the Rams have been 2-0 since the 2019-20 season. 

UP NEXT 
Jefferson will continue their stretch on the road as they go to face Kutztown University on Wednesday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. in non-conference play.