MAHWAH, NJ…New Jersey City University rallied from a 23-point, second-half deficit, to gain a one-point lead on Ramapo College, only to lose by one in the end, 88-87, in a thrilling New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s basketball contest at the Bill Bradley Center.
In a battle of the last two NJAC Champions, NJCU, the 2003-04 league winners, fell to 11-5 overall and 7-3 in the league, but remain in a first-place tie in the conference after William Paterson University also lost on Saturday. However, NJCU has lost three-of-five since beginning the year 9-2. Ramapo, the 2004-05 NJAC champions while NJCU was competing as an independent, has won four straight, and improves to 13-4 and 6-4 NJAC. The Gothic Knights are 8-0 at home this season, including a 98-78 win over Ramapo in the first meeting on December 10, but NJCU is just 3-5 in away and neutral site games.
NJCU was led by senior swingman
MARK WASHINGTON (East Orange, NJ/West Side) who finished with 24 points (10-18 FG) and seven steals in 32 minutes. Freshman forward
DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain (PA)) dropped 15 points (5-14 FG), including four three-pointers (4-11), adding five rebounds and four steals.
Junior power forward
DEVIN DAVIS (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) and senior center
JAMES KAISER (Stewartsville, NJ/Columbia) each scored 12 points and combined for nine rebounds.
Junior center
ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) came off the bench to contribute eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while senior point guard
ROB FREENEY (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) chipped in nine points.
Ramapo received game-highs of 26 points (10-11 FG, 6-8 FT) and 14 rebounds (12 defensive) from junior center Rashawn Wilson (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson), while sophomore guard Ahmad Mosby (Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony) tallied 14 points (6-11) and eight assists to overcome eight turnovers.
Senior forward Todd Lowber (Riverside, NJ/Delran) registered 14 points (4-9 FG). RCNJ received nine points apiece from junior guard Antoine Pryor (Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick’s) and freshman guard Timothy Wesley (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln).
RCNJ shot a scorching .625 from the field in the first half (20-32) and .591 in the second period (13-22), before finishing at 61.1 percent for the game (33-54). The Roadrunners also sank 19-of-22 at the free throw line, good for 86.4 percent.
Although NJCU shot just 42.0 percent (34-81) overall, 9-of-18 from the stripe (.500), and were out-rebounded 42-34, a fierce pressure defense in the second half forced RCNJ into 34 turnovers, which NJCU translated into an astounding 45-16 margin in points off miscues. In contrast, NJCU had 18 turnovers, and only five in the second half.
Ramapo raced out to a 13-0 lead in the first 2:23 of the game, and extended the first half cushion to 26-10 and 28-11. A three by Pryor gave the Roadrunners a 22-point, 39-17 lead at 6:40 of the half. RCNJ led by 22 twice in the first half before heading to the break ahead by 16, 48-32.
In the second half, Ramapo continued to lead considerably, and were in front by as many as 23 with 15:16 left when the Roadrunners moved ahead 61-38. However, NJCU slowly began to chip away at the lead. A three-pointer by Davis shaved the deficit to nine, 73-64 at 8:17, as the Knights pulled within single digits for the first time since the 14:03 mark of the first half. A jumper by John at 6:05 made it 75-68.
A three-point play by Wilson pushed the lead back to 11, 84-73 at 4:04. However, the Gothic Knights would close the game on a ferocious 14-3 run, fueled by its defensive pressure. A jumper by Williams at 1:51 made it 86-80, before a three by Washington slice the lead to three, 86-83 with 58 seconds left.
After a missed shot by Lowber, Washington pulled up for a jumper with 28 seconds left as the Knights climbed to within one, 86-85. NJCU’s press forced Ramapo into another turnover with 20 seconds remaining, and Washington found Davis for a layup on the left post with 13 seconds on the clock, as NJCU seized its first lead of the game, 87-86.
On the ensuing inbounds play, a full court pass allowed Mosby to convert an impossible shot in traffic and RCNJ regained an 88-87 edge with seven seconds left. NJCU had a chance to win, but a John three rimmed out with five seconds left, and a heavily-defended Williams could not get a clean shot off after an offensive rebound.
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. with an NJAC game at Rutgers-Newark.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
