New Jersey City University Athletics

MONTCLAIR, NJ… Senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) registered the first double-double of his four-year career, pacing New Jersey City University with 16 points and 11 rebounds, as the Gothic Knights led from start to finish, and knocked off Montclair State University, 76-63, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division contest at Panzer Gymnasium.

 

NJCU wins for the third time in four outings and pulls above .500 overall at 8-7 and 3-2 in the league. MSU falls to 7-7 and 1-3 NJAC. It was the 144^th meeting between the schools since the series began in 1932-33.

 

NJCU shot 77.8 percent from the line overall (28-36) including 82.6 percent in the second half (19-23), after converting 9-of-13 in the opening period (9-13). Montclair shot just 47.6 percent at the line and made just 10-of-21 tries—fewer conversions than Mirabel had by himself. The 28 free throws made were the most NJCU has collected as a team since shooting 33-of-43 against SUNY-Farmingdale on January 13, 2003—exactly four years ago.

 

Mirabel tied for a game-high with 16 points, with a career day at the free throw line. He shot 11 of 14 from the stripe, reaching career highs in free throws made and attempted. His 11 rebounds matched his career high, and he added three assists.

 

Sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) matched Mirabel with 16 points, adding nine rebounds (eight defensive), while shooting 6-of-10 and 3-of-4 from three-point range. Sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) chipped in 13 points and four assists, making 2-of-3 from three-point range.

 

NJCU junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) was the fourth player in double figures, with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. He made 10-of-11 at the line—both career highs. Junior guard AARON DESIR (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) scored eight points in 16 minutes off the bench, knocking down 2-of-3 from three-point range.

 

For MSU, junior forward Jonathan Arthur (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) had 14 points and matched a season high with 17 rebounds. Freshman guard Ken Dudley (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington Tech) added 14 points and five assists, while freshman guard Mike Hern (Hamburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley) finished with 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-5 3FG), and senior center Eric Sylvester (Orange, NJ/Orange) scored 10.

 

NJCU shot 57.1 percent with the long ball (8-14), including 6-of-11 in the first half, and used the three-pointer to take control of the game early. Triples by Mirabel and Tucker made it 6-0 in the first 1:06 of the game, and with four of the Knights first five field goals coming from three-point range, NJCU pulled in front 14-4 at 15:48 after Tucker hit his second trey.

 

A 12-4 MSU run allowed the Red Hawks to close within 18-16 at 9:19, before two three-pointers by Desir, sandwiched around a jumper by junior guard SHY MARTINEZ (Union City, NJ/Union Hill), and a Desir lay-up, made it 28-20 NJCU. A steal by Tucker followed by John’s fast-break bucket made it 31-20. NJCU led at the half, 35-25, as Mirabel scored the final four points of the period from the stripe.

 

NJCU quickly extended the run to 13-0 over two periods and a span of 2:43, as John scored nine points in the first 1:18 of the second half. His back-to-back triples made it a 19-point, 44-25 lead with 18:42 left.

 

Montclair played catch up the remainder of the game, getting within 10 points on four occasions before the five minute mark, including 55-45 with 8:39 left on a lay-up by freshman forward Charles Miller (Linden, NJ/Linden). But two freebies by Martinez, followed by a Hill lay-up, extended the lead to 14.

MSU would not get closer than eight points, 55-63, on an Arthur lay-up with 3:51 left.

 

MSU lost despite a 23-7 margin in second chance points and 25-14 from its bench. However, the Hawks shot just 5-of-21 from three-point territory (23.8 percent).

 

NJCU will be off for a week until returning to action on Saturday, January 20 when it hosts Richard Stockton College in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at 7 p.m. on Homecoming day at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.