BASKETBALL USES COMEBACK EFFORT TO EARN A TRIP TO THE CACC FINALS
Caldwell, N.J. (3/5/22) The #2 North Division seed Dominican College Chargers took down the #1 South Division seed Thomas Jefferson University in the 2021-2022 CACC Men’s Basketball Championships Semifinals by a score of 87-84 in overtime.
Caldwell, N.J. (3/5/22) The #2 North Division seed Dominican College Chargers took down the #1 South Division seed Thomas Jefferson University in the 2021-2022 CACC Men's Basketball Championships Semifinals by a score of 87-84 in overtime.
The game was played at Corino Court at the George R. Newman Center on the campus of Caldwell University in Caldwell, N.J.
With the win, the Chargers improve to 21-6 (12-5 CACC) on the season and earn a trip to the CACC Finals on Sunday.
The Chargers were led by Jalen Burgess (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) who scored a team-high 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to complete the double-double. Daniel Grant (Middletown, N.Y.) scored a season high 22 points and added four assists.
Wahaad Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with 21 points and three rebounds. Justin Copman (Cumberland, Md) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Copman went eight for eight from the free throw line. Donnell Hill (Staten Island, N.Y.) added six rebounds and two blocks.
The Rams were led by Deondre Bourne who scored 25 points and added four assists. Bismark Nsiah finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Ahmed Barba-Bey added 16 points while Antonin Kemkeng added 12 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
In the first half, Grant and Burgess combined for 27 points. The Chargers shot 66.7% from the field in the first half.
Dominican led early in the first half over the Rams but the Rams used a 15-2 run to take the lead.
The Chargers closed the gap but the Rams used another run to extend their lead back to seven points.
DC answered back with an 11-4 run down the stretch of the first half to take the lead over the Rams. A lay-up by Deondre Bourne ended the run and gave the Rams a one-point lead at halftime.
Early in the second half, both teams were even until the Rams used a 9-2 run to extend to their largest lead of the game over DC which was eight points.
The Rams held the lead down the stretch but the Chargers continued to cut the deficit. With 30 seconds remaining in regulation, the Chargers trailed 73-71. With time running out, Copman grabbed a critical rebound and scored with less than one second to play to tie the game.
In OT, the Rams extended to a five point lead but the Chargers used a 10-2 run to finish off the win. Copman made six free throws in the OT period including two free throws with five seconds remaining.
Copman and Grant combined for 12 out the 14 points the Chargers scored in OT to help secure the win.
The Chargers will face Felician University on Sunday, March 6th at 12:00 PM for the 2021-2022 Men's Basketball CACC Championship Final.
Video footage courtesy of Eli Sirota of Caldwell Univeristy
