RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Felician University erased a 13-point second-half deficit but could not remain in front, eventually dropping a 75-66 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's basketball decision to visiting Thomas Jefferson University on Saturday afternoon at Job Gymnasium. Jefferson (16-5, 12-2 CACC), the first-place team in the CACC South Division, is ranked No. 4 in the most recent NCAA Division II East Region media poll.  

Freshman guard Erik Timko (Audubon, N.J./Methacton) keyed Jefferson's second-period resurgence. Timko played the entire 40 minutes and finished with 29 points and seven rebounds. Junior swingman Justin Davis (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) scored 19 points with seven rebounds and classmate Dee-End McRae (Newark, N.J./Newark Central) amassed 17 points and eight board for Felician (13-8, 8-5).

Felician remained in third place in the CACC North Division, as four teams compete for the division's final three playoff spots. The Golden Falcons, who have four games remaining, are one game behind second-place Dominican (N.Y.) College and one ahead of a pair of teams tied for fourth.

Saturday's first half featured seven lead changes before the Rams pulled away for a 40-29 edge at the break. A layup by Jefferson sophomore Antonin Kemkeng (Lille, France/Lycee Fairherbe) to start period two gave his team its largest lead of the day.

The hosts whittled away the entire deficit. Davis tallied seven points during a 12-0 run over the next four minutes that pulled Felician with one. It took until the 11:47 mark, however, and five consecutive Etnik Peci (Pristina, Kosovo/Renaissance Academy [Calif.]) points, for the Golden Falcons to regain the lead, 52-51.

The advantage was short-lived. A successful Deondre Bourne (Brooklyn, N.Y./Leman Manhattan Prep) jump shot on the Rams' ensuing possession put the visitors ahead for good. The next 16 Jefferson points were scored by Timko, and when his steal led to a Bourne bucket to break that spell, the Rams were in front, 71-60, with 4:00 remaining.

Kemkeng accumulated 17 points and 15 rebounds, helping the visitors to a 38-29 edge on the glass. Peci and Jaylen Colon (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) scored 11 points apiece for Felician, which was held 18 points under its CACC-best scoring average.

Felician plays its final road contest of the regular season on Tuesday, when it makes a short trip to western Essex County, N.J, for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Caldwell University.