Today: Mar 28, 2024

Men’s basketball narrowly trumps Jefferson University

Matt GadSports Writer

Scott Burrell’s men’s basketball squad took care of business Monday night, 73-71, over Jefferson University (P.A.) thanks to a game-winner off the hands of Jerry Luckett, Jr.

“We felt great,” Luckett, Jr. said. “We just really needed to get that win tonight and that bucket at the end gave us the lead. We felt like we let them back in the game but in the end we got the win and that’s all that really matters.”

The Owls opened the game up 5-0 but let Jefferson back in to make it 10-10 early in the first half. At halftime, they held a 49-34 lead and were able to go on and get the victory.

Bernard Brantley had 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals and was a perfect 3-3 from three-point range. Luckett, Jr. contributed with his own nine points, but he only shot 4-10 and missed on both of his three-point attempts.

Burrell said it was tough scheduling this one, an out-of-conference matchup, because it gives the Owls a busy week closing out the regular-season but that it was what worked for both teams.

Jefferson was coming off an 86-85 overtime loss to Bloomfield (N.J.) and will take on Caldwell Sat. at 3 p.m.

“I felt like we didn’t have enough energy. We didn’t play with the fire that I wish we would’ve at home but we played in spurts,” Burrell said. “To be a great team and to beat great teams you gotta play for 40 minutes.”

The game was tied at 71 before Luckett, Jr’s layup to give the Owls a 73-71 lead with 7.5 seconds remaining. The Rams then called a timeout and tried to draw up a play with four and a half seconds to play with but fell off-line.

“I told them, if you’re trying to make the tournament you need every win,” Burrell said. “We have two left after this one and we need to go 15-10, 16-10. That’s the way we gotta finish and then win a few games in the tournament. That’s the way we’re looking at it; try and win our conference tournament.”

The Owls play Wed. at home against Le Moyne at 7:30, when they will honor their seniors, and are then at Pace Sat. to close out the regular-season campaign.

Photo Courtesy: southernctowls.com

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