RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Transfer Jared Pearson (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) came off the bench to score 20 points in 15 minutes and spark Felician University to an 87-80 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's basketball victory over visiting Concordia (N.Y.) College on Wednesday night at Job Gymnasium.

Both teams were coming off long layoffs centered around fall semester final exams. Felician (4-5, 2-1 CACC) ended a stretch of 10 idle days, while Concordia had not played since Dec. 3.

Golden Falcon senior forward Jeff Lewis (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) led all scorers with 22 points and added seven rebounds and four assists. Lewis (11 for 14) and Pearson (8 for 9), a fifth-year senior forward, combined to shoot 19 for 23 from the floor (83 percent).

Felician moved ahead to stay during the game's opening minute. The hosts jumped out to an 11-3 lead after three minutes of action and stretched to 28-16 following a Dee-End McRae (Newark, N.J./Newark Central) lay-up just past the first half's midway point. A 10-0 run gave the Golden Falcons their largest bulge of the night, 40-23 with 5:07 left in the first period, before Concordia pulled to within 44-34 at halftime.

Pearson helped make sure the Clippers never went back on top, totaling 16 second-half points. In one stretch, he scored five field goals in span of two minutes, 37 seconds, each with Felician ahead by a one-possession margin. Following the final occasion, the hosts were up, 67-62, with 11:13 to play.

Later, as the Golden Falcons clung to a 77-74 edge, Pearson made a putback layup at the 3:56 mark. After Concordia's Chauncey Sterling (Willingboro, N.J./Winchendon School) buried a three-point field goal to make it 79-77, Pearson was fouled on a drive and sank two free throws with 3:22 left in regulation time.

Felician pulled away from that moment. After the Golden Falcons forced a turnover, Lewis found McRae for a layup and a six-point lead at 2:12. Concordia's Jesse Breeding (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) followed with a layup, but the Clippers missed their final five shots of the night.

Felician shot 56 percent from the field. The hosts also held a 41-34 rebounding advantage. McRae led the way, putting up seven points, 12 boards and four assists.

Sophomore Jaylen Colon (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) amassed 14 points and five rebounds and classmate Jay'von Jackson (Plainfield, N.J./St. Mary-Elizabeth) added 12 points for Felician. Pearson, who sat out last season while attending Felician, entered the night having appeared in three games this year and totaled five points.

Breeding topped four double-figure scorers for Concordia (1-10, 0-2) with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Felician hosts regionally-ranked Bentley University on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rutherford.