PHILADELPHIA – Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (5-6, 0-2) were tied at 48-48 with 13:09 left in the second half, but the Wildcats began to get momentum and went on a 32-15 run that ended with the Rams falling to Wilmington University of Delaware (7-5, 2-0) in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) matchup this Saturday afternoon.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
Wilmington started the game with a Caleb Matthews layup and a Amiri Stewart three-pointer to be up 5-0 in the early stages of the game. The Rams took the lead as Erik Timko made two free throws and a layup alongside Justin Hawkins. Both teams would see that similarity in the first half, trading baskets and the lead. Hakim Byrd made it 13-11 on a three-pointer, but Lameen Carter made his own basket beyond the arc to have it 14-13 with just under six minutes into the first half.
 
After the game was even at 19-19, Timko made back-to-back three-point shots to put Jefferson up 25-16 with 10:35 left in the half. The Wildcats made 1-2 free throws and next two baskets to get within one, but Antonin Kemkeng made a jumper inside the paint to have it at 27-24. After another Kemkeng basket, Wilmington would go on a 10-0 run and get out ahead 34-29 with 4:59 to go before the break. Kemkeng would have two more baskets, scoring 14 of his team leading 18 points on the day, while Hakim Byrd made his own basket to get the Rams within one point of the Wildcats as they went into the break down 36-35 to Wilmington.
 
Each team would get off to scoring in the second half, with Ahmed Barba-Bey and Hawkins making layups while Taalib Holloman and Stewart made free throws to have it at 39-39. Wilmington would get out to four points ahead, but the Rams would claw back as Timko converted the and-one to have it at 48-48 with 13:09 left to go. Wilmington would then begin to jump ahead, as Carter, Matthews, and Nalik Veasley each scored a basket to put the Wildcats up 56-50.
 
Veasley would make two free throws and a Kaleb Hedgepeth dunk made Wilmington's lead into the double digits. Farouk Kaba hit a three-pointer, but Skip Burton responded with his own shot from beyond the arc. The Wildcats would begin to keep adding to their lead, going on a 18-11 run to end the game with an 80-63 CACC victory. This is the first regular season home loss for the Rams since February 9, 2022.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Antonin Kemkeng: 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Erik Timko: 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting (2-4 3PT), 5-5 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 steals
Hakim Byrd: 9 points on 3-of-10 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will look to get back in the win column inside the Gallagher Center once again as they welcome St. Thomas Aquinas College on Thursday, January 4 at 3 p.m.