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BOX SCORE


Caldwell, N.J. - The Holy Family University men's basketball team ended Bloomfield College's three year reign as conference champions as the Tigers defeated the Deacons, 62-51, in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) semifinals on Friday afternoon at the George R. Newman Center on the campus of Caldwell College.
 
Holy Family, winners of seven of its last eight games, improves to 21-9 overall this season.  The Tigers will now face cross-town rival Philadelphia University in the CACC Championship game on Saturday.  Holy Family is returning to the conference final for the first time since the 2007-08 season and for the second time in the team's NCAA Era.  The Tigers lost to the Rams in the 2008 final, 73-67, in overtime.
 
Senior Alberto Munoz (Morrisville, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons) finished with a game-high 17 points to lead all scorers.  Munoz shot 5-of-7 from the field for the game and scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half to pace the Tigers.  The three-time All-CACC selection was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range.
 
Senior Ervin Ezell (Deptford, N.J./Deptford High), who was named to the All-CACC second team earlier in the week, finished with 13 points and five boards, while sophomore Isaiah Gans (Philadelphia, Pa./Redemption Christian Academy) added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.  Redshirt senior Khiry Hankins (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day School) posted ten points off the bench for the Tigers. 
 
For Bloomfield, senior Steve Henderson was the lone Deacon to score in double-figures as he led the team with 12 points off the bench.  Fellow classmate Mike Williams added eight points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists.  Junior Marvin Williams added seven points and four boards.
 
Holy Family led the majority of the game as the Tigers' defense held Bloomfield to just 26.4-percent shooting from the field for the game.  Holy Family limited the Deacons to 7-of-36 shooting in the first half, as the Tigers mounted a 25-19  halftime lead.
 
The Tigers gained the lead for good at the 13:54 mark after a Munoz three-pointer broke a 9-9 tie.  From that point on, Holy Family outscored Bloomfield, 16-10, in the half to lead by six points entering the locker rooms at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Tigers maintained their lead despite Bloomfield cutting the score to 31-29 after a Henderson three-pointer at the 14:17 mark.  However, the Tigers responded with a three-pointer of their own on the ensuing possession when Hankins drained a three to make the score 34-29.
 
As the half progressed, the Tiger swelled their lead to nine points on two separate occasions with the later coming with 2:18 to play in regulation.  A dunk by Gans gave the Tigers a 55-46 advantage.
 
Down the stretch Bloomfield began fouling to shorten the game and send the Tigers to the free throw line.  In the final two minutes Holy Family converted 7-of-8 from the line to hold off the Deacons.
 
As mentioned, the Tigers will face the South Division Champion Philadelphia in the CACC Championship game on Saturday.  Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. at Caldwell.  The winner will earn the CACC's automatic qualifying bid into the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament.