LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Deondre Bourne drilled a game-tying three-pointer with nine seconds remaining to force overtime and the Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (18-5, 14-2 CACC) defeated Georgian Court, 74-67, in conference action on Saturday evening.
 
GAMEPLAY
The two sides were even at 10 over five minutes into the contest. The Rams went ahead with six straight points but the Lions came back with nine in a row to take a 19-16 lead. Jefferson netted the next four for a one-point advantage (20-16) but Georgian Court responded once more, this time with a 7-0 run to go in front 26-20 with 3:55 left. It was a five-point game (29-24) before the Rams closed the period with six unanswered points for a 30-29 halftime lead.
 
The teams remained close throughout the early portion of the second half with three ties in the opening nine minutes. Jefferson nursed a one-point advantage (44-43) with 8:43 to go. The Rams created some separation with five consecutive points to make it 49-43 at the 7:11 mark. Still trailing by five (53-48) with 4:14 left, the Lions rallied for an 8-0 surge to jump ahead 56-53 with just 26 seconds to play. Bourne ended the Jefferson drought with a game-tying triple on a contested shot from the left wing then came up with a big block at the other end to send the game into overtime.
 
Darius Kinnel gave the Rams the first points in the extra session with a layup but GCU followed with a three to take the lead. Jefferson then took over for good with a 12-3 run that gave the Rams a 70-62 lead with 1:56 left. Kinnel scored five points, Bourne recorded four, and Bismark Nsiah hit a three. The Lions got within five (70-65) with 1:38 on the clock but Jefferson converted four free throws down the stretch to hold off Georgian Court.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Deondre Bourne: 25 points (4 three-pointers), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
- Antonin Kemkeng: 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 12 rebounds, 2 steals
- Darius Kinnel: 17 points (tied career high, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
- Bismark Nsiah: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 26-of-74 (35.1%)
3PT: 6-of-25 (24.0%)
FT: 16-of-20 (80.0%)
 
NOTES
- Of Jefferson's six three-pointers, four of them came in a 3:13 stretch spanning from Bourne's game-tying shot near the end of regulation to Nsiah's triple with 1:56 left in overtime.
- It was the Rams' first overtime contest of the season.
- Jefferson tied its season low with just six turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams host USciences on Wednesday, February 23 at 6 p.m. Coach Herb Magee's Hall of Fame career will be celebrated as he coaches his final regular season home game.