PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team returned to the Gallagher Center court for the first time in over 600 days on Saturday, opening the season with a 69-61 victory over American International to kick off the East Region Challenge. The Rams sat out the 2020-21 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
GAMEPLAY
The teams were even at six early in the contest then Jefferson went on a 9-0 run to open up a 15-6 advantage. Antonin Kemkeng and Deondre Bourne sparked the rally with six and three points respectively. Six straight AIC points got the Yellow Jackets within three (15-12) but Jefferson held them off and maintained the lead. The Rams gradually increased the margin and Erik Timko's three-pointer with 1:36 to go in the half restored a nine-point cushion (29-20). Bourne hit a jumper with five seconds to go and Jefferson took a 33-22 lead into halftime.
 
The Rams began the second period with eight of the first 12 points to go up by 15 (41-26). However, AIC stormed back with a 14-2 surge to cut the deficit to three (43-40) with 12:54 on the clock. Not to be deterred, Jefferson followed with a 15-6 stretch to make it a 12-point game (58-46) with 5:48 to go. Four different players contributed to the run. The Yellow Jackets closed to within three (59-56) with 2:54 left but the Rams went 7-for-8 at the line down the stretch to ice the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Erik Timko: 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting (5-10 3PT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
- Deondre Bourne: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
- Antonin Kemkeng: 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 6 rebounds
- Nick Ovchinnikoff: 8 rebounds, 3 points
- Darius Kinnel: 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 rebounds, 1 block
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 23-of-59 (39.0%)
3PT: 7-of-22 (31.8%)
FT: 16-of-26 (61.5%)
 
NOTES
- It was the Rams' first game in the Gallagher Center since March 3, 2020 – a span of 621 days
- Coach Herb Magee opened his final season with his 1,124^th career victory.
- It is the sixth straight season that Jefferson has won its season opener.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams wrap up their opening weekend against Franklin Pierce on Sunday, November 14 at 12 p.m.