NEWARK, Del. – Hakim Byrd hit a go-ahead jumper with 20 seconds remaining to lead the Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (6-3, 2-0 CACC) to a 75-71 victory at Wilmington (4-4, 1-1 CACC) on Tuesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two sides went back and forth in the early going with three ties in the opening nine minutes. With the score even at 11, the Rams started a 12-4 run to put them ahead eight (23-15) with 9:18 on the clock. Three different players scored during the stretch. The Wildcats answered with the next five points to get within three (23-20) but Jefferson drilled a pair of threes around another Wilmington basket to build a seven-point advantage (29-22) with 7:02 left. The Rams performed the same feat when the score was 34-31 and later went into halftime with a 40-35 lead.
 
The Wildcats came out roaring in the second half, pouring in 17 of the first 22 points to go in front, 52-45, with 13:43 to go. Jefferson recovered and responded with a 13-4 surge to regain the edge, 58-56. Hakim Byrd and Erik Timko both netted four points during the run. A Wilmington layup evened the score at 58 and began a 9-2 rally for the Wildcats as they took the upper hand, 65-60, with 6:40 to play.
 
The Rams produced eight straight points for a three-point cushion (68-65) with 4:17 left. The margin was still three (70-67) at the 2:55 mark before the Wildcats scored a layup to make it a one-point game. Both teams came up empty for the next two minutes then Wilmington finally broke through with a second-chance layup for a 71-70 edge with 35 seconds remaining.
 
Down by one, the Rams inbounded in the front court and got the ball to Byrd past the three-point line. Byrd dribbled to his right around a screen from Antonin Kemkeng and got an open look from the top of the key that he swished for a 72-71 Jefferson lead. A miscommunication by the Wildcats on their ensuing possession resulted in a turnover and Darius Kinnel hit a pair of foul shots to up the Rams' cushion to three (74-71) with four seconds left. Timko then jumped the Wilmington inbounds pass for a steal and Cosby Napoleon went 1-for-2 at the stripe to ice the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Erik Timko: 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting (5-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Jason Shields: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Hakim Byrd: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Darius Kinnel: 9 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound
Antonin Kemkeng: 7 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 24-of-52 (46.2%)
3PT: 12-of-23 (52.2%)
FT: 15-of-20 (75.0%)
 
NOTES
- Jefferson netted double-digit three-pointers for the third straight game and had its best three-point field goal percentage of the season.
- The Rams won the rebound battle for the third game in a row and tied their season high with five blocks.
- Jefferson has won seven consecutive games against Wilmington.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams have a 10-day break before visiting Saint Anselm for a key regional matchup on Saturday, December 17^th at 1 p.m.