New Jersey City University Athletics

 

FARMINGDALE, NY…New Jersey City University rallied from a 22-point, first-half deficit, and later rebounded from a second-half, 18-point setback, to twice force a one-possession game, but SUNY-Farmingdale survived for an 83-78 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game at Nold Hall on Saturday.

 

Farmingdale (6-2) wins for the fifth time in six outings, and defeated the Gothic Knights (5-4) for the first time in the history of this series, which NJCU now leads, 6-1. After opening the season at 4-0, NJCU has dropped four of its last five games.

 

In defeat, sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) had a game-best 25 points (9-20 FG) with five rebounds. It was his third game of 25 or more points this season. Senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) scored 17 points (5-14), with nine boards and three blocks. Senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) added 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

 

The Rams received 19 points (7-21 FG; 3-7 3FG) from sophomore guard Damien Santana (Brooklyn, NY/Grady), who added five rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Peter Like (Shelton, CT/Shelton) made 5-of-7 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range as the tandem combined for seven of Farmingdale’s 10 triples. The Rams shot 10-of-21 (47.6%) from deep and FSC’s bench outscored NJCU’s reserves, 42-18.

 

FSC also collected 13 points (6-12) and nine boards from senior forward Sean McCabe (Bellmore, NY/W.C. Me Pham), and 12 points from junior guard Rich Rises (Tarrytown, NY/Archbishop Stamina). Junior forward Brian Robinson (White Plains, NY/White Plains) seized a game-best 11 rebounds (nine defensive), as the Rams out rebounded NJCU, 54-40. Freshman guard Shane Denali (Bronx, NY/Our Savior Lutheran) chipped in seven assists.

 

After NJCU led in the opening minutes of the game, the second half was controlled offensively by the Rams, who shot 50 percent in the period (19-38), including 6-of-12 from long range. The Rams built their largest lead of the game, a 40-18, 22-point cushion with 4:55 remaining in the period, after a jumper by Santana.

 

NJCU, which opened the game by converting 14 of its first 15 free throws before missing six straight in the second half, cut the deficit to 42-32 with 2:06 left in the period, courtesy of four Williams freebies at the end of a 14-2 spurt in which he scored six points. The Rams held a 10-point, 46-36 half time

margin.

 

With FSC leading by 12, 56-44 with 15:19 remaining, a 12-2 streak by the Knights over a span of 3:08 allowed the Knights to whittle the deficit to two points, 58-56. John had six points during the streak on three consecutive free throws and a triple.

 

But Farmingdale hit back-to-back threes and Santana followed a pair of free throws with a layup, to regain a 12-point edge, 68-56. In a game of runs, Santana’s fastbreak layup with 6:31 remaining put the Rams ahead 76-58, capping an 18-2 spurt that gave FSC an 18-point cushion.

 

Yet again, NJCU would not quit, and the Knights held Farmingdale scoreless for more than four and a half minutes, enough to answer with a 15-0 run of their own. A triple by freshman guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary’s) made it a 76-71 game with 3:16 left, before Williams powered to the basket for a layup and a three-point, 76-73 deficit.

 

However, the Rams converted three free throws to snap the drought, and Santana buried a three with 51.2 seconds remaining to put the Rams ahead 82-73. NJCU attempted one last resurgence, as Lopez hit another three at 42.3 and junior guard SHY MARTINEZ (Union City/Union Hill) hit a layup after one of 24 FSC turnovers, to make it 82-78 with 27.1 seconds remaining. But after a turnover by Denali gave NJCU a chance, John missed on two three-point tries, and the Knights dropped the five-point decision.

 

NJCU will be off for 13 days over the holidays, before returning to action on Friday, December 29 at 4 p.m. against Albright College in the opening round of the Hampden-Sydney College Car Coop/Weenie Miller Holiday Hoops Tournament in Hampden-Sydney, VA.