New Jersey City University Athletics

 

NEWARK, NJ…Rutgers-Newark freshman guard Youngor Kehleay (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) turned a steal into a game-sealing, fast-break lay-up with less than three seconds remaining, as the Scarlet Raiders overcame a 12-point second-half deficit with 10:48 left to edge New Jersey City University, 51-48, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at the Golden Dome.

 

NJCU, which had won three of its last four entering the game, falls back to .500 on the season and 8-8 and 4-7 in the NJAC. The victory for fifth-place Newark (12-6, 7-4) is crucial, because the Raiders now own a three-game lead over seventh-place NJCU in the conference standings, and swept the season series after an earlier win in Jersey City on November 30.

 

In defeat, junior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) scored a game-high 16 points (6-14 FG) while playing every second of the 40-minute contest. She added six rebounds and four assists, and has now played all but one minute of each of NJCU’s last four games. She has been on the court in 202 of the last 205 minutes for the Gothic Knights. Senior power forward MEGAN KABBA (Newark, NJ/Arts) had eight points (4-9 FG) and eight rebounds for NJCU.

 

Four players reached double figures for R-N, led by senior center Christyal Anderson (Newark, NJ/University), who registered a double-double with 12 points (3-8 FG) and 12 rebounds, adding three steals, while also playing a full 40 minutes. Sophomore forward Eni Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) added 12 points (4-6) and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Sabrina Sanchez (Keasbey, NJ/Woodbridge) chipped in 12 points in 21 minutes off the bench. Kehleay had 11 points and four rebounds.

 

Each team struggled mightily from the floor in the first half, as R-N shot 6-of-24 (.250) and NJCU made 6-of-26 (.231), with the Raiders leading 16-15 at the half. The Raiders led 12-4 at 11:02 of the before an 11-4 run to close the half by NJCU made it a one-point game.

 

NJCU shot 51.9 percent in the second period (14-27) and after trailing 22-19 early in the half, the Knights uncorked a 14-0 run over the next 5:41 to pull in front 33-22 on a layup by sophomore center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln). The spurt extended to 17-2, and the Knights led by 12, 36-24 with 10:48 remaining, after McNair drilled a three. She had seven of NJCU’s 17 points during the scoring run.

 

However, R-N battled back. A three-pointer by Sanchez at 7:19 made it 38-35, and Fageyinbo converted three of four free throws that shaved the lead to two, 40-38, with less than five minutes remaining. A Sanchez three gave Newark a 41-40 edge at 4:06 before McNair completed a three-point play for a 43-41 NJCU margin. A layup by Anderson followed by two free throws by Kehleay with 2:12 left gave R-N a 45-43 lead, before freshman center KELLY WILSON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) tied it with two free throws at 1:51.

 

Anderson put the Raiders back on top at 1:26 when she drove to the basket and followed a bucket with a free-throw, making it 48-45. A layup by sophomore forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) closed the gap to 48-47 and NJCU received a break with 48.5 seconds left when a layup by Kehleay was waived off after an offensive foul. McNair tied the game at 44.2 on the board with one free throw. Kehleay, who scored R-N’s final three points, put the Raiders ahead 49-48 with a freebie at 36.1. NJCU had three chances to take the lead. A Newark steal became a traveling violation, and a later jump ball resulted in a Knights’ possession arrow. However, with 10.9 seconds left, Kehleay picked off a pass and raced down the court for a layup and a 51-48 cushion. After a timeout with 1.5 seconds left, NJCU could not get off a potential tying shot.

 

NJCU finished the game shooting .377 (20-53), but were 2-of-10 from three point range (.200). Newark shot .340 (18-53), and were 2-of-15 from three (.133). Newark had a 41-35 advantage on the glass.

 

NJCU returns to action on Saturday, January 28 at 5 p.m. when it looks to sweep a series season from Rowan University for the first time since the 1988-89 season, as the Knights host the Profs in an NJAC game during Homecoming/Green and Gold Days weekend.