PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (13-8, 6-4) held the Griffins to only 24 points in the second half as the Rams were able to earn a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) win over Chestnut Hill College (7-16, 6-6) 74-57 in Tuesday evening action.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
Jefferson got out to an early 12-4 lead as all five starters for the Rams score in the first four minutes. Antonin Kemkeng and Ahmed Barba-Bey made their layups, Bismark Nsiah had a dunk, Hakim Byrd converted on an and-one, and Erik Timko made a three in the contest. They would keep their lead up to 21-12. Justin Hawkins would join in with a three-pointer of his own while Barba-Bey made a pair of free throws to have it 28-16 for the Rams. The Griffins would score 8 straight points, with Noah Charles and Argel Pettit hitting their shots from beyond the arc, to get within four points. Kaba Farouk made his free throws and Nsiah would add another score, helping him to his team-leading 15 points on the night, while Kemkeng, Hawkins, and Byrd scored near the end of the first half. Neal Hill would make a buzzer beating three before the break to have the Griffins trail 39-33 heading into the second half.
 
The second half would see both teams trade shots as Byrd made a layup and Nsiah hit a jumper and three-pointer it at 48-36. Timko would make his own three while Kemkeng had another basket for the Rams. Barba-Bey would also make his attempt from beyond the arc as the Rams were up 59-44 with 9:30 left in the game. After a dunk by Hill and a layup from Kamal Lee, the Rams would get a 10-2 run that put them out of reach for the Griffins and locked in their victory. Timko and Byrd hit three-pointers while Barba-Bey scored four points during that run. Jack Moynihan would make his attempt from the three-point line and have the last points in the game to finish the 74-57 victory over their CACC South rivals.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Bismark Nsiah: 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting (2-2 3PT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Hakim Byrd: 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 7 assists, 3 rebounds
Erik Timko: 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting (3-9 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Ahmed Barba-Bey: 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will now be on the road as they travel to New Jersey to take on Bloomfield College in CACC action this Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m.