New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

AUDIO: ARCHIVED GAME BROADCAST PART 1 of 3

AUDIO: ARCHIVED GAME BROADCAST PART 2 of 3

AUDIO: ARCHIVED GAME BROADCAST PART 3 of 3

 

READING, PA…Albright College shot 61.3 percent from the field in the first half and 71.4 percent (5-7) from three-point territory to open up a commanding 26-point half time lead, and cruised to 94-71 victory over New Jersey City University, in the championship game of the Albright College/Sheraton-New Year’s Tournament, Saturday afternoon at the George C. Bollman Center.

 

After never facing Albright (5-7) in the 74-year history of the NJCU men’s basketball program, the Gothic Knights (6-7), met the Lions twice in the past eight days, with similar results. On December 29, with four players, including two starters out of the Knights’ lineup in the Hampden-Sydney Tournament, the Lions defeated NJCU, 76-62.

 

Despite Saturday’s loss, senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) and junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) were each named to the All-Tournament Team.

Four players reached double figures for NJCU, led by sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) with 14 points (6-15 FG), but he struggled from long range, shooting 2-of-10.

 

Mirabel and Hill each tallied 10 for the Knights. Mirabel collected 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while Hill provided 10 points (5-11 FG) with seven rebounds and four assists. Junior guard SHY MARTINEZ (Union City, NJ/Union Hill) continued to play well off the bench, recording 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) finished with eight points.

 

Sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris), NJCU’s second leading scorer entering the game at 14.2, attempted to play with a leg injury he incurred in Friday’s opening round win over Lycoming, but could only log seven scoreless minutes.

 

Albright junior point guard Greg Conroy (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) was named tournament Most Valuable Player, as he came off to bench to score 14 points (3-7 FG, 2-5 3FG), while shooting 6-of-6 from the line. Junior center Kyle Brudvig (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) finished with 13 points (5-8 FG), and matched a game-high eight boards.

 

Also for the Lions, junior Albert Medoro (Exton, PA/West Chester Henderson) had 11 points (5-8 FG) and five rebounds, and junior Tom Murphy (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) added 10 points (2-3 FG) in 17 minutes, earning All-Tournament Team selection. Senior forward Michael Boles (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Charter) contributed 10 points (6-6 FT) off the bench in 14 minutes Senior point guard Matt Kieselowsky (Moscow, PA/North Pocono) earned All-Tournament Team honors with eight points, five steals and four assists in 18 minutes.

 

NJCU never led in the game, and Albright was in front 24-21 with 10:39 left in the first half after the teams traded five ties. But the turning point of the game was a 16-0 run by the Lions, capped by two treys by Kieselowsky, which made it 40-21 with 5:51 left. NJCU committed five turnovers during the streak and Albright had a 22-12 margin in points off turnovers overall. The Lions led by 26 at the half, 58-32, and were ahead in the second half by as many as 31 points (67-36) with 17:05 left in the contest.

 

After shooting 19-of-31 from the field in the first half (61.3%), the Lions continued to connect in the second period, making 51.9 percent of its attempts (14-27). Albright shot 56.9 percent overall (33-58), The Lions made 8-of-16 from three-point territory (50.0%) and converted 20-of-25 free throws (80.0%).

NJCU shot 31-of-73 overall (42.5%), but struggled from three-point range, making just 5-of-26 (19.2%).

 

NJCU will return to action on Wednesday, January 10 at 8 p.m. when it hosts nationally #9 ranked William Paterson University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.