Men's Basketball Gets 82-65 Win over Holy Family in Season Finale
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball team (20-8, 12-4) secure the South division for the fifth straight season as they headed into tonight's rivalry matchup with the Tigers. After Holy Family University (8-18, 4-12) tied it up at 46-46 with 12:23 to go, the Rams went on a 36-15 run to end the game and walk out of Campus Center in an 82-65 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South win this Saturday afternoon.
WHAT HAPPENED
Jefferson got out to an 8-2 lead from Ahmed Barba-Bey and Bismark Nsiah baskets, added by Hakim Byrd making a three pointer. Holy Family pushed ahead of the Rams, going up 23-18 by eights points from Ryan Holmes. The Rams climbed back, with Nsiah hitting free throws while Barba-Bey made his shots alongside Justin Hawkins to go up 28-25. Jefferson concluded the first half with a 10-3 run as Byrd made a jumper at the buzzer to get the Rams ahead in the break 36-28.
Erik Timko began the second half with six straight points for the Rams. David Robinson Jr. slammed a dunk down and Jason Shields makes a shot to cut Jefferson's lead to three points. Ashton Miller made two layups to put the Rams up by five, however Ethan Pries converted on a three and Holmes made a shot to even the game at 46-46.
Byrd responded by hitting a three with a pair of free throws, putting the Rams up 51-48. After Holy Family got it back within three points, Jefferson began to get their distance from the Tigers. Barba-Bey made a three and Byrd finished an and-one play while Timko and Nsiah made jumpers to get the lead up into double digits. Nsiah hit multiple shots down the stretch as Timko followed Byrd with the and-one three point play to get Jefferson ahead 77-65. Farouk Kaba ended the game with a three-pointer to finish the Rams 82-65 win and earn a 20+ winning season on the year.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Erik Timko: 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, 7-7 FT, 3 assists, 2 steals
Bismark Nsiah: 20 point on 7-of-8 shooting, 6-8 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Hakim Byrd: 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting (3-5 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Ahmed Barba-Bey: 9 points on 4-of-15 shooting (1-8 3PT), 7 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists
MILESTONES
Jefferson has clinched their fifth straight CACC South Division title in a row, the second in coach Jimmy Reilly's career. This is also the ninth 20+ win season for the Rams in the last 10 seasons (2020-21 was cancelled due to COVID).
LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING SEASON
The Rams have had a winning season dating back to the 1997-98 season. This is now the longest active winning streak in all of Division II, with the previous streak, the University of Findlay men's basketball team dating who had theirs' from 1981-82 season, end as they conclude their season at 12-16. The Rams 74-year history in men's basketball, 68 of those years concluded with a season either at .500 or above.
UP NEXT
The Rams, who are the #1 team in the South, will host the CACC Championship Quarterfinal as they face #4 Felician University from the North division on Tuesday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.
