New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University burst out to a 10-2 lead in the first 1:48 of action and five players reached double figures in scoring, as the Gothic Knights defeated an opponent by 30 or more points for the 81^st time in school history, with a 98-65 rout of Briarcliffe College, in the 2006-07 home opener for NJCU at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

NJCU (3-0) wins its sixth consecutive game and for the 12^th time in its last 13 contests since last season, and leads the series, 3-0. BC falls to 2-3. The game was the 1,499^th on record in NJCU history.

 

NJCU has scored 90 points or more in all three games this season, and have won 16 consecutive games when scoring 90. In it's illustrious history, NJCU is now 216-13 all-time when scoring 90 points.

 

NJCU shot above 50 percent in each period, finishing at 52.2 percent for the game (36-69). The Knights forced 32 Briarcliffe turnovers. NJCU had a 26-8 margin in fast-break points and 30-19 in points off turnovers. The NJCU reserves outscored the Seahawks bench, 41-18.

 

Sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) scored a game-high 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 2-of-4 from three-point range, and added nine assists in 21 minutes. Senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) notched 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting in 23 minutes, and added two blocks. His only miss came on his first three-point attempt in two seasons.

 

The Gothic Knights received 14 points (5-9 FG), including two threes and two blocks from the reigning NJAC Player of the Week, sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain), who played 23 minutes. Freshman forward DIVINE LYLES (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Regional) had 14 points in 14 minutes, while shooting 5-of-7.

 

Also for NJCU, junior guard AARON DESIR (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) chipped in 11 points (3-6 FG), five rebounds, four steals and three assists in 16 minutes. Junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) contributed seven points, six boards, three assists and three blocks in 23 minutes.

All 12 players on the roster played at least 10 minutes, and 11 scored. NJCU shot 20-of -30 from the free throw line (66.7%).

 

The Seahawks received a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting from freshman forward Anthony Crispino (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale). Freshman forward Eugene Nottingham (Amityville, NY/Amityville) finished with 13 points (6-13 FG), and four assists. Briarcliffe out-rebounded NJCU, 42-36, with 17 offensive rebounds on 42 missed shots, leading to a 16-7 edge in second chance points. Overall, the Seahawks shot 39.1 percent (27-69), but 4-of-15 from long distance (26.7%).

 

When NJCU surged to a 10-2 lead to start the game, John scored seven of the Knights points. The lead expanded to 33-19, and NJCU held a 22-point cushion (51-29) on a Desir three with 1:18 left in the period, before heading to the break up 51-35.

 

NJCU opened the second half on a 20-8 run. The Knights led 65-39 off a 14-4 spurt, as Williams scoring eight of his points early in the second half. NJCU's largest lead came with 9:33 remaining, when a lay-up by freshman guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's) made it 81-45—a 36-point cushion.

 

NJCU will return to action on Monday, November 27 at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game at John Jay College in New York, NY.