BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (November 22, 2011) - Three players totaled at least 12 points to help give Bloomfield's men's basketball team its first victory of the season Tuesday evening, as the Deacons topped Dowling College 71-61 in a non-conference home contest.  The victory moves the club to 1-3 on the young season.

Dowling was able to control the action at the outset, jumping out to a 16-10 advantage in the early stages of the opening half.  But the Deacons would quickly rebound, ripping off a 9-0 run to grab a three-point cushion with ten minutes to play in the period. 

It would prove to be a lead the home team would not relinquish, as Bloomfield was able to outscore the Golden Lions 12-2 over the next four minutes to take a commanding 31-20 lead.  Sophomore guard Terry Hicks (Neptune, N.J.) led the charge with 11 points in the first 20 minutes of play, connecting on three of his five three-point attempts to help key the surge.  The Deacons would take a sizable 39-25 cushion into the intermission, in prime position to pick up their first victory of the 2011-2012 campaign.

Bloomfield would hold the advantage for the remainder of the contest, despite a hard charge from the Golden Lions midway through the second frame.  Dowling was able to cut the lead to as little as six points at 59-53 with 5:52 to play, but a final run by the Deacons moved the gap back to double-digits, thwarting the visitors' comeback hopes and snapping the home team's three-game losing streak with a much-needed win.

Senior forward Matt Wafula (Harlem, N.Y.) continued his outstanding stretch of play to begin the season in the victory, tallying 15 second-half points to help preserve the triumph and finish with a team-high 20 points and six rebounds.  Hicks would finish with 17 points, while point guard Ahmad Harris (Linden, N.J.) would turn in his second consecutive double-digit assist performance, totaling a game-high 13 helpers while notching six points, six rebounds and a pair of steals.  Matthew Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied 12 points off the bench, continuing his solid play in reserve in the win.

Bloomfield returns to action Friday, November 25, when they travel to Owensboro, Kentucky to take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the first leg of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Tournament.  Tip-off for the contest is yet to be announced.