WALTHAM, Mass. – The Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (6-5) could not keep up with #18/12 Bentley (9-1) in the second half on Sunday, suffering an 88-63 defeat on the road.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams were even at seven with 16:45 left in the opening half. The Falcons then went on a 9-2 run to take a 16-9 lead at the 12:04 mark. Hakim Byrd and Darius Kinnel drilled back-to-back threes to get the Rams within one (16-15) but Bentley came back with four points to up the margin to five (20-15).
 
An 8-2 Jefferson surge gave the Rams a one-point edge at 23-22 with 5:51 remaining. Byrd led the way with four points. Jefferson was in front 25-24 before the Falcons ended the half with a 14-6 rally for a 38-31 halftime advantage. Bentley shot 53.6% (15-of-28) in the period.
 
In the second half, the Falcons still had a seven-point cushion (40-33) with 17:18 to go. Bentley then embarked on a 19-9 stretch to increase the difference to 17 (59-42) with 12:14 left. The Rams cut the deficit to 13 but the Falcons followed with eight straight points to make the score 67-46 at the 9:14 mark. Jefferson closed the gap to 19 just once as Bentley cruised the rest of the way, outscoring the Rams 50-32 overall in the half on 66.7% shooting (20-of-30).
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Erik Timko: 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Darius Kinnel: 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Hakim Byrd: 9 points, 1 assist, 1 steal
Antonin Kemkeng: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 26-of-60 (43.3%)
3PT: 6-of-21 (28.6%)
FT: 5-of-10 (50.0%)
 
NOTES
- Antonin Kemkeng recorded his 500^th career point.
- Jefferson lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
- The Rams fell to 1-3 all-time against Bentley.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson returns to CACC play at Georgian Court on Thursday, December 29^th at 2 p.m.