PHILADELPHIA – Despite a career-high 26 points from senior guard Gjaimeir Stanford (Wilmington, Del.), the Felician University men's basketball team was defeated,60-56, by the host Jefferson Rams on Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.

The victory allowed Jefferson (formerly Philadelphia University) (16-9, 11-3 CACC) to retain its hold on first place in the CACC South Division. Felician falls into a fourth-place tie with Post University (7-15, 6-7) for the final playoff spot from the CACC North Division with six games remaining. The Golden Falcons and Eagles meet on Wednesday in Waterbury, Conn.

Senior Yevgen Sakhniuk (Kiev, Ukraine) topped a balanced Ram offense with 15 points and added four blocked shots. Jefferson held the Golden Falcons (9-12, 6-7) to 38-percent shooting from the floor and helped cause 16 Felician turnovers.

Jefferson moved ahead for good, 40-39, on a Sakhniuk lay-up with nine minutes, 18 seconds, left in regulation time, starting a 6-0 Ram run. The hosts led by six points on two occasions thereafter, the final time following a free throw by Prince Hickson (Amityville, N.Y.) at the 2:46 mark.

After a Rahsaan Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) lay-up cut the Golden Falcon deficit to 51-47 at 2:46, several long, but empty, possessions ensued. Jefferson senior Kaison Randolph (Trenton, N.J.) split a pair at the foul line for a five-point lead with 1:08 left.

The Golden Falcons scored on each of their next three possessions, coming within three points each time, but on each occasion, the visitors could not get the defensive stop they needed. Alexander Gorton (Jonesboro, Ark.) made a key layup at 0:31, and the Rams were 6 of 6 at the foul line in the final 48 seconds.

Randolph totaled 14 points and nine rebounds, playing the entire 40 minutes. Stanford was the only double-figure scorer for Felician. Williams ended up with 12 rebounds and three blocks.

A Hickson dunk completed the first-half scoring, allowing Jefferson to enter intermission ahead, 26-20. The Rams were ahead by as many as 10 points early in period two before Felician returned to contention with a 15-2 run.