PHILADELPHIA – The HFU Men's Basketball Team came back from a double-digit second half deficit to take multiples leads in the final five minutes, only to fall short against Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) leader Felician, 67-72, on Saturday afternoon inside of the Campus Center. 
 
Prior to the game, the Tigers honored the senior class of Najee Coursey (Egg Harbor City, N.J./Cedar Creek (Sacred Heart University)), Omarion Jett (Montclair, N.J./Saint Benedict's Prep (American International College)), Karrington Wallace (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Central Connecticut State University)) and RJ Delahaye (Newburgh, N.Y./The Storm King School (Franklin Pierce University)).  
 
The Golden Falcons' advantage reached as large as 12 and was still 10, 55-45, midway through the half, before AJ Cortes (Miami, Fla./Miami) started and finished a 9-1 surge to pull HFU within 54-56 with 7:59 left. 
 
Following two Felician free throws, back-to-back baskets Elijah Hernandez (Bronx, N.Y./Our Savior Lutheran (Westchester CC)) gave the Tigers their first lead of the second half, 59-58, with 5:14 to go. 
 
Di'Andre Howell-South (Paterson, N.J./Immaculate Conception (Wagner College)) then answered Golden Falcons points twice for respective advantages at the 3:26 and then 2:44 marks, the latter making the score 63-62 with just 2:44 showing. 
 
Felician responded with a 3-pointer to take the lead for good though, despite two HFU foul shots cutting the deficit to one at both the 52 and 20-second marks. 
 
The Golden Falcons would seal the victory by making all four of their free throw attempts in the final 11 seconds. 
 
Individual Highlights

• Coursey was one of three Tigers in double-figures with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and he also blocked a game-high two shots
• Hernandez had 12 points and double the amount of rebounds as any other player, a season-best 12, for his first double-double at HFU
• Matt Gardler (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) led all players with 19 points

 
Inside the Box Score

• Holy Family made more field goals, but Felician made up for it by making more free throws (16-23)

 
How it Happened

• The Golden Falcons led by nine three times in the first half, including at 20-29 5:53 ahead of the break
• Gardler started and finished an 11-5 stretch to end the period, as his layup in the final seconds cut the deficit to 31-34 entering the locker room
• Felician would use five unanswered to establish its game-high 52-40 advantage

 
Up Next
Holy Family closes out its home schedule hosting Goldey-Beacom this Wednesday at 8 p.m.