JERSEY CITY, N.J.——–Senior forward Jeff Harrington (Newark, NJ/Shabazz) scored the 1,000th point of his career, and sophomore guard Najm Calhoun (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) had a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds as New Jersey City University (4-2, 3-1) squeaked out an 81-79 win in overtime against Rutgers-Newark(2-3, 1-3), late Saturday evening at the Athletic and Fitness Center.
With the win, NJCU pulls into a first-place tie with The College of New Jersey in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The two schools will hook up Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Ewing with sole-possession of first-place in the NJAC on the line.
NJCU took a 34-30 lead into the intermission, thanks to 41.2 percent shooting from the floor, while Rutgers-Newark was successful on just 25.8 percent of their shots. The Raiders stayed in the game by out-rebounding the Knights 30-18 in the opening half, and converting 13-of-16 free throws in the half (81.3).
NJCU’s impressive shooting continued in the second half, as the Knights converted 54.8 percent of their shots (17-of-31). NJCU increased their lead to eight in the second stanza, and had leads of at least eight seven times, including a nine-point edge with 5:56 to play.
R-N kept it close, and trimmed the NJCU lead to 72-70 with 2:21 remaining on a basket by Asmar Fortney (Plainfield, NJ/Middlesex). Fortney finished with 15 for the Raiders.
George Thomas (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary’s) followed with a free throw to give NJCU a 73-70 edge. But freshman guard Christian Hernandez (Weehawken, NJ/Weehawken) drained a three-pointer with 2:07 to go, and Rutgers-Newark tied the game for the first time in the second half, 73-73.
With 1:36 remaining, Harrington fought for an offensive rebound underneath, and went up to finish a lay-up to become the 22nd player in NJCU men’s history to record 1,000 points, and give the Knights a momentary 75-73 lead.
Hernandez gave R-N their first lead since the 7:24 mark of the first half with 1:14 to go, and the Raiders led 76-75. Calhoun hit 1-of-2 free throws with 43 seconds left and the game went to overtime tied at 76.
After a scoreless opening two minutes to the overtime session, freshman Samar Battle (East Orange, NJ/Clifford Scott) gave the Knights a 77-76 lead with a free throw. Calhoun added two more free throws and NJCU led 79-76 with 2:00 remaining. Harrington’s 21st point of the game (1,001st career) gave NJCU an 81-79 after junior guard Samaad Taylor (Newark, NJ/Science) hit a long three-pointer with seven ticks left to cut the lead to 80-79. Newark hit the rim with desperation three-pointer at the buzzer.
Harrington was 9-of-15 shooting, while Calhoun shot 8-of-16, and 6-of-9 from the line. Battle continued his sizzling defensive play with seven blocks for the Knights. NJCU stuffed 14 Raiders shots, while R-N had just one block.
Taylor led all scorers with 26 points, including 11-of-13 from the line. Jeron Rayam (Newark, NJ/Science) chipped in 17 points, and a game-high nine rebounds.
NJCU finished shooting 44.9 percent from the floor (31-69), while R-N hit 26-of-80 (32.5). The Raiders were 71 percent from the line (22-31), while NJCU hit 58.6 (17-29). Newark had a slight edge in rebounding (51-47). R-N had 28 offensive rebounds.
