PHILADELPHIA – Holy Family took the lead with two minutes remaining and the Rams' game-winning attempt at the buzzer was off the mark as the Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (9-9, 5-3 CACC) fell at the Tigers (8-10, 2-6 CACC), 64-63, in CACC action on Tuesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams trailed 3-2 early before going on an 8-0 run to take a 10-3 lead. Holy Family got within three (10-7) but Jefferson came back with eight of the next 10 to increase the margin to nine (18-9) with 14:12 on the clock. The Tigers rallied with a 13-4 stretch to even the score at 22 with 8:08 left. Ahmed Barba-Bey drilled a three to put the Rams back in front and Jefferson had the advantage for the rest of the half, taking a 37-32 lead into the locker room.
 
Holy Family opened the second half with seven straight points to go in front 39-37. Barba-Bey answered with a jumper to even the score. The teams were still level at 47 apiece before the Tigers went ahead with a 9-2 surge to make it 56-49 with 7:31 remaining. The deficit was still seven (59-52) when Jefferson rebounded with nine consecutive points to claim the upper hand (61-59) with 2:21 to play. Barba-Bey led the way with five points.
 
On Holy Family's next possession, the Tigers hit a jumper and drew a foul, converting the free throw for a one-point edge (62-61) with 2:01 to go. The Rams came up empty on their next trip and Holy Family upped its cushion with a jump shot to make it 64-61. Jefferson committed an offensive foul then the Tigers missed a three-point attempt. A foul put Darius Kinnel at the line and he made one shot to get the Rams within two (64-62). Antonin Kemkeng rebounded the miss and drew another foul. However, Jefferson came away with just one point and still trailed by one (64-63) with 33 seconds left.
 
The Rams put Holy Family at the stripe and the Tigers missed the front end of a one-and-one to give Jefferson a chance for the win. However, the Rams' shot would not fall as the buzzer sounded.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Ahmed Barba-Bey: 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
Erik Timko: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Antonin Kemkeng: 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Bismark Nsiah: 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 22-of-50 (44.0%)
3PT: 5-of-19 (26.3%)
FT: 14-of-19 (73.7%)
 
NOTES
- Antonin Kemkeng recorded his fifth double-double of the season.
- Jefferson tied its season high with six blocks.
- It was just the Rams' second loss to Holy Family in the last 11 meetings.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson is home against Alliance (formerly Nyack) on Saturday, January 21^st at 3 p.m.