PHILADELPHIA – Holding a one point lead with 10:45 to go in the game, the Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (21-8) went on a 23-14 run for the remainder of the game as the Rams' held off the Golden Falcons to earn a 76-66 win against Felician University (13-15) to head to the CACC Championship Semifinals. This is the 11^th straight Semifinal appearance for the Rams.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
Jefferson jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with Hakim Byrd making a three-pointer and Bismark Nsiah was 2-2 at the free throw line. Felician responded in similar fashion, tying it at 5-5. The Golden Falcons got out to the lead from Anas Amos layup with 13:52 to go in the first half, but Ahmed Barba-Bey converted on his shot from beyond the arc to have the Rams back ahead. Felician would not stay back, pushing the pace with two layups, getting it back to even with 10:41 left in the first period.
 
Justin Hawkins scored five straight points, a three-pointer and layup, with Erik Timko following along with a shot from beyond the arc, giving Jefferson an eight point lead in less than two minutes. Felician cut it to five points off a Tavian Pullock jump shot. Byrd got the Rams' lead up by hitting back to back three pointers to get a double digit lead for Jefferson at 36-25 with 3:10 left in the first half. Jabri Fitzpatrick shot from beyond the arc and a Jalen Colon layup got the Golden Falcons within six points. Barba-Bey converted a three pointer and Kemkeng make a layup to get Jefferson up 41-30. Dee-End McRae last second layup cut the Rams' advantage to nine points with Jefferson up 41-32 into the break.
 
Felician began to pick up momentum in the first five minutes of the second half, going on a 13-5 run to trail Jefferson's lead by one point 46-45 which saw Jabri Fitzpatrick three pointer and layup that lead to a foul. Both teams started to trade baskets, with neither side looking to fall behind in terms of momentum. Both teams kept it close as the score was 53-52 with 10:45 to go in the game. Jefferson started to go on a roll, scoring seven straight points. Kemkeng and Ashton Miller hitting layups while Timko's three had it at 60-52. Defenses started to pick up as the Golden Falcons hit three baskets and get within two points with 6:38 to go.
 
Timko and Nsiah hit three pointers to get the lead back to eight points. Felician kept answering with baskets but unable to get as close as six points, but unable to get any closer as the Rams' concluded the quarterfinal matchup with a 76-66 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Hakim Byrd: 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting (5-7 3PT), 3 assists
Antonin Kemkeng: 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 13 rebounds
Erik Timko: 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting (3-7 3PT), 6 assists
Bismark Nsiah: 3-of-9 shooting (1-3 3PT), 12 rebounds
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will now travel to Caldwell University to compete in the CACC Championship Semifinals on Saturday, March 9. The Rams will take on #2 seed from the North division Post University. The Eagles came back in the final 10 seconds to beat Wilmington University 79-77.