New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) led three players in double figures, as the Gothic Knights took control of the game late in the first half and never trailed again, snapping Richard Stockton College’s seven-game winning streak with a 64-53 win in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s basketball game, Saturday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

NJCU (9-7, 4-2 NJAC) wins its third consecutive game and for the fourth time in five outings since New Year’s Day. The Knights have won six consecutive home games at the JMAC since last February. The Ospreys, who have not won in Jersey City since February 2002, fall to 12-6 overall and 3-3 NJAC.

 

The game was part of Homecoming/Green and Gold Days at NJCU, and the win was the Knights’ first in the four years the event has been held in conjunction with basketball season.

 

John tallied a game-high 19 points (5-11 FG; 2-5 3FG) and shot 7-of-9 from the line, adding seven rebounds. NJCU junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) had nine of his 13 points (4-9 FG) in the final 5:16 of the game, and chipped in five rebounds. Junior guard AARON DESIR (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) continued to play well, coming off the bench to contribute 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

 

Senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) seized a game-high 11 rebounds, adding seven points and four assists, while senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) tacked on nine points and four assists.

 

Only one player reached double figures for Stockton, as junior guard Mario Lancioni (Runnemede, NJ/Triton) finished with 15 points (5-12 FG), and 4-of-9 from three-point range, while adding six rebounds. Junior forward Jon Greene (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood), this past week’s NJAC Player of the Week, was limited to eight rebounds and seven points in 24 minutes.

 

The Ospreys received eight points and seven rebounds from sophomore forward Derrick Williams (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City), seven points and seven boards from junior forward Stanley Branch (Atlantic City, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep) and seven points and six assists by junior guard Joe Albano (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown).

 

Neither team shot particularly well, with NJCU at 35.5 percent (22-62) and 16.7 from three-point range (3-18), and Stockton shooting at 32.2 percent (19-59) and 23.1 percent (6-26), respectively.

 

Stockton twice held five-point first half leads and there were three ties, including 18-18, before an offensive rebound and putback by Desir gave NJCU only its fourth lead of the game with 6:40 remaining in the opening period. NJCU outscored the Ospreys 10-4 in the final seven minutes of the first half and led 28-22 at the intermission.

 

NJCU scored the first four points of the second half and gained a 32-22 margin after baskets by Williams and Desir. The Knights increased that lead to as many as 12 points with 11:30 left, when John sank a three-pointer for a 48-36 lead.

 

NJCU went on a 6:14 scoring drought, and a 9-0 spurt by the Ospreys allowed the visitors to chip the deficit to three points, 48-45 on a Branch fast-break steal and lay-up with 5:54 remaining. A three-point play by Hill made it 51-45, and he added two free throws at 4:44 for a 53-46 lead. Hill scored nine of NJCU’s final 13 points, and after Stockton was able to close within 55-50, his jumper at 2:24 extended the lead to 59-50. John’s lay-up with 1:18 iced the game as NJCU led by 11, 61-50, before winning by 11.

 

NJCU will return to action on Wednesday, January 24 at 8 p.m. when it hosts Ramapo College in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Stockton hosts Rowan University that night at 6 p.m.