WEEK of: NOVEMBER 15-21, 2010
Junior forward TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) is the NJCU Men’s Athlete of the Week for the second time in his career after averaging 11.0 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench in a 1-1 week for the Gothic Knight men’s basketball team to open the 2010-11 campaign. He shot 8-fo-14 from the field—57.1 percent—and was 3-of-6 from three-point range (.500) and .750 from the free throw line, while contributing two assists and one block. For his efforts, Abdullah was named to the Nate Ware Invitational All-Tournament Team—his first career honor.
Abdullah, who previously was named NJCU Athlete of the Week as a freshman on December 22, 2008, played an important role in NJCU’s come-back bid in a 64-60 season-opening loss to Alfred University on November 19. In 16 minutes, he scored 10 points, knocking down 3-of-5 from three-point range (3-8 FG) after going just 1-for-13 from that distance last year and 6-for-26 in his career.
NJCU trailed by nine early in the second half, but when Abdullah hit his second three of the contest, NJCU pulled in front, 44-43, with 10:50 to go. Abdullah drilled another three at 9:14 for a 47-46 edge. He had three rebounds, two assists and one block in the game.
On November 20 in an 82-52 rout of Philadelphia Biblical University, Abdullah shot 5-of-6 with 12 points, including a pair of transition dunks, in 12 minutes. He grabbed four rebounds in the win.
