New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University surged to a 20-4 lead to start the game and never trailed, as the Gothic Knights forced #13 ranked William Paterson University into is worst shooting performance of the season, and cruised to a crucial, 56-42 victory over the Pioneers in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division contest at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

The 42 total points by WPU was the least by an NJCU opponent in 17 years, since the Knights defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 87-41, on January 23, 1991.

 

NJCU (7-7, 2-2 NJAC) climbs back to the .500 level in overall and in the league, while WPU (10-4, 2-1 NJAC), ranked 13^th in Division III in the latest D3Hoops.com national poll, loses its first NJAC game of the year. It was NJCU’s fifth straight home win and its first victory over a nationally ranked team since a 98-78 result against Ramapo College on December 10, 2005—the Knights’ second win over a ranked team in as many outings.

 

The win for NJCU was crucial, because the Knights avoided falling to 1-3 in the league’s 13-game schedule. Meanwhile, the Knights pick up what could end up being an important win in the event there is a tie in the final conference standings, as NJCU knocked off the defending NJAC champions.

 

WPU entered the game with the nation’s No. 2 ranked scoring defense (54.7 per game) and held the fourth-best opponent field goal percentage in Division III (.365).

 

However, while the Pioneers held NJCU to less than 60 points for only the second time this year, the Knights limited an opponent to fewer than 50 points for the first time since a 71-47 win over John Jay College on November 28, 2005.

 

The NJCU held WPU to 32.0 percent shooting from the field (16-50) and 11.1 percent from three-point range (2-18). The Pioneers shot just 33.3 percent from the line (8-24), missing its first 10 free throws.

 

Sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, finishing 6-of-13 from the field, and 3-of-5 from three-point land, adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

 

Sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) notched 12 points (4-8) and three steals in 38 minutes, while senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) added 12 points and six defensive rebounds.

 

Senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) finished with a game-high 10 rebounds (nine defensive) and three assists, while junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) tacked on seven points, five boards and three blocked shots.

 

The lone WPU player in double figures was senior forward Luis Martinez (Passaic, NJ/Clifton), with 10 points (5-14 FG) and four steals. Sophomore guard Tim Lucas (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) had nine points, while junior forward Larry Leverett (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had eight points and six rebounds, but was 2-of-11 from the line. Outside of WPU’s top three scorers, the remaining 10 players totaled just 15 points.

 

Neither team scored until the 15:27 mark of the first half, and when NJCU finally did, it vaulted to a 10-2 lead at 12:44, as Tucker scored six points. A triple by Mirabel made it 15-2 at 10:23. The Pioneers made just 1-of-10 from the field to open the game and 2-of-14, and scored just two points in the first 10:17 of action.

 

A three by Tucker made it 20-4 and John followed with a layup ay 8:18 for a 20-4 differential. After a Pioneer turnover with seconds remaining in the opening half, Tucker drilled his third triple of the period at the buzzer for a 33-15 halftime margin.

 

NJCU’s largest lead of the game was 22 (37-15) after a pair of John free throws at 18:19 of the second half. With the hosts leading 44-26, WPU was able to draw within nine points with an 11-2 run, and trailed 46-37 with 6:28 remaining, but NJCU quickly regained a double-digit advantage, winning by 14.

 

NJCU shot 45.2 percent (19-42) overall and won despite being out-rebounded (39-34) for the 12^th time in 14 games, including 16-6 on the offensive glass.

 

NJCU will return to action on Saturday, January 13 at 1 p.m. in an NJAC North Division game at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. WPU hosts Ramapo College on Saturday at 3 p.m.