PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (9-8, 5-2 CACC) topped visiting Bloomfield (8-8, 4-3 CACC) by a 97-87 score on Sunday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams got out to a 5-0 lead before the Bears responded with eight straight points to go in front. Jefferson answered back with 10 of the next 12 for a 15-10 advantage with 13:19 on the clock. Bloomfield followed with a 7-2 stretch to even the score at 17. The teams went back and forth and the Bears held a slim 25-23 lead with 8:46 remaining. The Rams then went on a 10-2 run to go ahead 33-27. Bismark Nsiah sparked the run with five points.
 
Bloomfield was within four (38-34) with 2:52 left in the half. Jefferson created separation with another 10-2 surge, upping the margin to 12 (48-36). The Bears got five points back and trailed by seven (49-42) at halftime. Both squads shot over 50.0% in the period, with the Rams leading the way at 58.1% (18-of-31).
 
Bloomfield opened the second half with eight consecutive points to take the lead, 50-49. Jefferson called timeout to regroup and the break paid off as the Rams came back with a 15-7 stretch to go ahead by seven (64-57) with 13:07 to go.
 
The Bears cut the deficit to five (71-66) with 10:20 on the clock before Jefferson answered with eight of the next nine points to increase the difference to 12 (79-67). Bloomfield rallied for seven in a row to get within five again but the Rams put an end to the rally with yet another 10-2 surge to lead 89-76 with 3:19 to play. The Bears closed the gap to nine (89-80) with 2:47 left but made just two field goals the rest of the way as they were outscored 8-7 down the stretch.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Erik Timko: 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting (5-10 3PT), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block
Bismark Nsiah: 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal
Ahmed Barba-Bey: 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Darius Kinnel: 11 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 37-of-65 (56.9%)
3PT: 12-of-29 (41.4%)
FT: 11-of-16 (68.8%)
 
NOTES
- Erik Timko posted his sixth 30-point game of the season.
- Bismark Nsiah recorded his first double-double of the campaign and third of his career.
- Ahmed Barba-Bey's 19 points is a season high.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson travels to city rival Holy Family on Tuesday, January 17^th for an 8 p.m. game.