Men's Basketball Opens Season with Two Wins in East Region Challenge
PHILADELPHIA – Thomas Jefferson University men's basketball (2-0) began their season hosting the East Region Challenge, where four teams have two games in two days. Jefferson went against American International College (0-2) and Mercy University (0-2) to open the year. The Rams went to take down the Yellow Jackets 77-66 on Friday night while Jefferson handled the Mavericks 89-58 in Saturday afternoon competition.
WHAT HAPPENED
JEFFERSON VS AIC
- The Rams and Yellow Jackets kept it close to begin the game, trading baskets and ending up tying at 26-26 before Jefferson went on a 15-7 run that took them to the half up 41-33
- American International kept coming back to cut down Jefferson's lead, but the Rams refused to let it go and held on, earning a 77-66 win
- Jefferson shot 58.06% in the first half while going 18-of-23 from the free throw line in the second to help them earn the victory
TEAM STATS
FG: 26-of-55 (47.3%)
3PT: 3-of-20 (15.0%)
FT: 22-of-27 (81.5%)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Alex Bates IV: 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting (2-6 3PT), 6-6 FT, 2 steals
Brendan Mykalcio: 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 4-5 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Jeremiah Dorsey: 14 points on 3-of-10 shooting, 8-10 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
JEFFERSON VS MERCY
- After Mercy got out to an early lead, the Rams went on a 18-1 run that gave Jefferson the lead that they would never relinquish
- The Mavericks pushed back to get within four points, but another run by the Rams put them up 38-27 at the break
- Jefferson started to hit their shots throughout the second half, going 18-of-38 on the floor with 11 of those 24 shots being from beyond the arc
- The Rams didn't let their lead go below double digits, concluding their time against Mercy with a 31 point win
TEAM STATS
FG: 32-of-68 (4711%)
3PT: 13-of-36 (36.1%)
FT: 12-of-17 (70.6%)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Alex Bates IV: 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting (5-8 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Jeremiah Dorsey: 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting (2-6 3PT), 5 rebounds, 6 assists
Farouk Kaba: 9 points on 2-of-6 shooting (1-4 3PT), 4-4 FT, 2 assists
Brendan Mykalcio: 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks
Jahmare Memphis: 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting (2-2 3 PT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists
UP NEXT
Jefferson will stay in the Gallagher Center as they take on St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday, November 19 at 8 p.m.
