Men's Basketball Wins at Felician to Clinch CACC Playoff Berth

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Needing a win to clinch a CACC playoff berth, the University of Bridgeport's men's basketball team took care of business on Saturday courtesy of a 78-72 win at Felician. The triumph improves the Purple Knights' overall record to 16-11 this season and 10-5 in the conference.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Purple Knights were led by five players in double figures who combined for 70 of UB's 78 total points. Remarkably, UB now has seven different individuals averaging at least 7.0 points per game this season.

Aliou Cisse and Justin Hendrick led the way with 18 points apiece. Hendrick knocked in six three balls off the bench while Cisse finished 7-of-14 from the floor.

Cisse continues to be ranked second in the CACC in points per game (20.2) while rising to No. 7 in the league in field-goal percentage (54.3%).

Caleb Jacobs (14 pts), Amadou Traore (10 pts) and Jason Edokpayi (10 pts) also reached double figures for the road squad.

Edokpayi and Traore also tied for the team lead with seven rebounds while Jacobs dished out a team-best five assists.

Traill and Jacobs each registered three steals in the game and are both currently tied for second in the CACC in takeaways (2.2 per contest).

All told, Coach Krunch's squad finished 26-of-66 (39.4%) from the floor and 18-for-25 (72.0%) from the free-throw line. The Purple Knights totaled 16 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In a game that featured 12 ties and 26 lead changes, UB made all the right plays down the stretch.

Tied 58-58 with 8:10 remaining, the Purple Knights rattled off a 10-4 run to earn a 68-62 lead with 2:34 left in regulation.

Felician was able to trim that edge to just three points on three separate occasions, but Bridgeport responded each time. The last time being a pair of free throws from Jacobs that put the road squad up 74-69 with less than a minute remaining.

Jacobs then made two more free throws to put the advantage up to seven as UB made eight straight from the charity stripe over the final 1:25 of the game.

The Purple Knights were able to overcome a five-point halftime deficit. UB outscored Felician by 11 points over the final 20 minutes.

UP NEXT
The Purple Knights will close out their regular season next Saturday at home against Post (3 p.m.). UB needs a win to host a first-round playoff game on March 4.