PHILADELPHIA - The Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (17-5, 13-2 CACC) clinched the CACC South Division regular season title with an 82-62 triumph over visiting Chestnut Hill on Tuesday night.
 
GAMEPLAY
The Rams netted the first six points of the contest and it was a prelude to an impressive first-half performance. With the score 8-4, Jefferson exploded for 15 straight points over a five-minute span to increase its cushion to 19 (23-4). Deondre Bourne led the way with eight points. The Rams continued to keep their distance from the Griffins and Erik Timko hit a three-pointer at the 3:55 mark for their largest lead of the frame (35-15). Jefferson took a 41-22 lead into halftime. The Rams shot 51.6% (16-of-31) during the period while holding Chestnut Hill to just 27.6% (8-of-29) from the field with no three-pointers.
 
Jefferson opened the second-half scoring with a layup to make it a 21-point margin (43-22). The Griffins refused to lie down however, coming back with an 18-7 surge to get within 10 (50-40) with 13:04 left. The Rams built the difference to 14 (54-40) but Chestnut Hill answered with six of the next seven to cut the deficit to nine (55-46) with 8:31 to go. Just when it looked like the Griffins were rallying, Jefferson stole the momentum back and put the game away with a 15-3 run that made it 70-49 with 4:08 remaining. Timko was the top scorer in the stretch with nine points.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Erik Timko: 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
- Ahmed Barba-Bey: 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
- Bismark Nsiah: 14 points (tied career high) on 6-of-8 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks (tied career high), 3 assists, 1 steal
- Antonin Kemkeng: 12 points, 16 rebounds (tied career high), 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
- Deondre Bourne: 10 points, 1 rebound
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 32-of-62 (51.6%)
3PT: 5-of-16 (31.3%)
FT: 13-of-25 (52.0%)
 
NOTES
- The Rams held Chestnut Hill to 22 first-half points, the lowest Jefferson has allowed in a single half since the first half of the season opener (22).
- The Griffins shot just 31.5% (23-of-73), the lowest of any Jefferson opponent this season.
- It is the third straight season, in which they have competed, that the Rams have won the CACC South Division regular season crown (2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22).
 
CACC PLAYOFF PICTURE
Jefferson will be the South Division's top seed for the CACC Tournament and will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 1 with start time and opponent to be determined.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams visit Georgian Court on Saturday, February 19 for a 5:30 p.m. game.