New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Richard Stockton College used a 16-0 run in the early moments of the game to move ahead by double figures and shot 54.7 percent overall, as the No. 6 seeded Ospreys upset No. 2 New Jersey City University, 80-69, in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro semifinals, Friday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

Richard Stockton College (19-9) advances to Saturday ECAC championship game against the winner of No. 1 New York University and #4 Rutgers-Newark.

 

The 74^th season of NJCU men’s basketball ends at 19-10. After winning 10 straight in the middle of the season, NJCU went 3-3 in the final three weeks. The Knights are 26-9 (.743) all-time in 35 ECAC games. NJCU was the defending ECAC Metro champions.

 

The game marked the second consecutive year that Stockton and NJCU met in the ECAC semifinals, with the visitor winning each contest.

 

The Ospreys out-rebounded NJCU, 42-25 and shot 18-of-23 from the free-throw line (78.3%), including 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) in the first half alone. NJCU only attempted four free throws all night.

Sophomore guard Jerome Hubbard (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) scored a game-high 25 points (8-15 FG), shooting 7-of-9 from the line, with three steals and two blocks in 40 minutes. Junior forward Jon Greene (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood) collected 16 rebounds (13 defensive) and 13 points (5-9 FG), while sophomore guard Chad Davis (Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart) tallied 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting.

 

Also for RSC, sophomore forward Derrick Williams (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) had 13 rebounds (11 defensive) and seven points, while junior guard Joe Albano (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) had 10 points and seven assists, despite 10 turnovers. Junior guard Mario Lancioni (Runnemede, NJ/Triton) had seven points and seven assists.

 

Sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) led two players in double figures for NJCU with 16 points (4-12 3FG), six rebounds, four steals and two blocks. He finished the year with 516 points and 98 three-pointers, and now has scored 835 in two years. Sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) tacked on 15 points (6-14 FG; 2-5 3FG) and had three steals and three assists in 21 minutes.

 

Also for NJCU, junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) had eight points, eight rebounds and four assists. Senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) scored eight points to finish his career with 941, and senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) contributed seven assists in his final outing.

 

A quick 7-2 lead at 17:27 for NJCU quickly evaporated, as the Ospreys took advantage of four Gothic Knight turnovers in a span of 1:50, scoring off each giveaway. A three by Albano capped a 16-0 run as Stockton led 18-7 at 13:21. Hubbard had seven during the streak. RSC extended the spurt to 19-2 and led 21-9. Stockton led by as many as 13 in the first half before heading to the break ahead 40-30, shooting 57.7 percent in the period (29-53).

 

Stockton scored the first five points of the second half and pulled ahead 45-30 at 18:34 on Hubbard’s fast-break basket off a turnover. NJCU battled back and closed to within five points, 47-42, when Tucker drilled a three-pointer at 16:47 to cap a 12-2 spurt. Tucker had seven points during the comeback bid. A lay-up by Williams made it a six-point game, 50-44, at 16:10.

 

But Stockton quickly rebounded with a 14-2 run of its own and pulled in front by 18 points, 64-46, with 12:46 left, on a Davis lay-up. Four of Stockton’s five starters scored during the decisive stretch. The Ospreys largest lead was 20, 70-50, with 8:43 left. NJCU, which lost on its own floor for only the third time in its last 16 games, could not mount another comeback.