PHILADELPHIA, Pa. –  Junior guard Ta'Quan Williams scored 12 points while graduate forward Derrick Thomas II had 11 points for Post University Men's Basketball as the Eagle offense was stifled by Holy Family University on the road, as the Tigers snapped a nine-game losing streak against Post with a 65-55 victory on Saturday. 

THE BASIC

Post University 55, Holy Family University 65

Post University (9-12, 8-5 CACC)

Holy Family University (10-11, 4-9 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
In a game that featured just six ties and four lead changes, all but two of those ties and one lead change came in the first half of action. Senior guard Omarion Jett scored two of his six points right off the bat with a layup to give the Tigers the lead, which was matched by Thomas II's tip-in to tie the game at two all. Holy Family would end up leading for most of the first half after Post's first lead of the game came during a 5-0 run led by Williams' three, 11-7. 

After having their largest lead of the half be four points, the script would flip back in favor of the home team as the Tigers opened up a six-point edge, which was reduced down to four points, 21-17, by Thomas II with 8:49 to go. Senior forward Karrington Wallace would proceed to score four of the six points on a 6-0 run by Holy Family, giving them their first double-digit lead of the afternoon at 11 points, 28-17.

In response, junior forward Deng Akok broke up the run with his layup as part of a five-point effort on a 10-0 run by Post that saw graduate forward Gianni Thompson account for the other five points, creating only a one-point deficit for the Eagles, 28-27. Akok and junior guard Zion Lott would both hit back-to-back threes to close out the first half, turning an 11-point deficit into a three-point advantage at halftime, 33-30.

But after a quick exchange of three-pointers from both sides, freshman guard Matt Gardler's three with 15:11 to go ended up giving the Tigers the lead for good after starting a 9-0 run for them, going ahead 45-36 with 12:47 left in regulation. The closest Post would get the rest of the way was six points on four occasions, with the last time being with 2:33 remaining in regulation following a three from senior guard Tre Duncan, cutting it down to 59-53.

Closing out the streak-snapping win for the Tigers was senior forward Najee Coursey with a 6-0 run on his own, ending the game with 14 points behind only junior guard Elijah Hernandez's 16-point effort, which led Holy Family in the 65-55 win. As a team, Post finished 21-for-62 (33.9%) from the floor overall, with 10 of those makes coming from three-point range, where they were 10-for-29 (34.5%), while only shooting four free throws.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Najee Coursey narrowly missed recording a double-double for Holy Family University, scoring 14 points while adding nine rebounds in the win for the Tigers
• Scoring only 55 points against Holy Family University today, that is the fewest points Post University has scored in the all-time series against the Tigers and the fewest points in a single game since scoring 54 points against Alliance University on the road on January 31st, 2023, in a 67-54 loss
• At halftime this season, Post University falls for the first time when leading at halftime, dropping to 6-1, while being 3-10 when trailing and 0-1 when tied
• Post University's nine-game winning streak against Holy Family University came to a close with the loss as this is Holy Family University's first time beating the Eagles at home since February 6th, 2016, when they came out on top 75-57

WHO'S NEXT
Starting a stretch in which they will play their next three games at home, Post University takes on Felician University this Tuesday at 7:30 PM in the Drubner Center. Meeting just under two weeks ago, the Golden Falcons came out on top, 75-68, earning their second consecutive win against the Eagles.