KEVIN TUCKER is the NJCU men's athlete of the week for the second time this season after two solid performances in a 2-0 week for the Gothic Knights. With a 56-42 upset of #13 William Paterson University on January 10, followed by a 76-63 road win over Montclair State University on January 13, NJCU (8-7, 3-2 NJAC), moved above .500 overall and into third place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division.
Tucker, who is currently tied for 28th in Division III in steals per game at 2.8 per contest, was NJCU's statistical leader last week in several areas, as he led the team in scoring, assists and steals, averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 62.5 percent from three-point range (5-8), 41.7 percent from the field (10-24) and 66.7 percent from the line (4-6).
In NJCU’s 56-42 upset of WPU, Tucker scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, finishing 6-of-13 from the field, and 3-of-5 from three-point land, adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals. NJCU surged out to a 20-4 lead behind Tucker and led 33-15 at the half. The 42 total points was the least by an NJCU opponent since January 1991.
In the Knights 76-63 road win over Montclair State University, NJCU led from start to finish. Tucker contributed 13 points, four assists and two steals. He made 2-of-3 three pointers, 3-of-4 from the line and 4-of-11 from the field.
His three-pointer at 18:54 of the first half made it 6-0, before buring a second three at 15:48 for a 14-4 margin. His steal late in the first half led to a fast-break basket and a 31-20 lead, which NJCU never relinquished.
On the season, Tucker is averaging 13.2 points (185), 4.2 rebounds (24-35-59), 3.29 assists (46), and 2.64 steals per game (37). He is NJCU's leader in steals and assists and second in scoring. Overall in 14 games (14 starts) and 378 minutes (27.0 per game), he is shooting .383 from the field (64-167), .324 from deep (22-68) and .625 from the line (35-56).
Among the NJAC leaders, he ranks tied for first in steals and steals per game, eighth in assists, tied for ninth in three-pointers made, 11th in assist/turnover ratio (0.94), and 12th in scoring.
