New Jersey City University Athletics

MONTCLAIR, NJ…New Jersey City University committed 31 turnovers, which Montclair State University translated into a 35-10 scoring advantage off of giveaways, as the Red Hawks downed NJCU, 77-66, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division opener for both schools on Wednesday night at the Montclair Student Rec Center. 

MSU wins its third straight game to improve to 3-3 overall (1-0 NJAC) while NJCU (1-3, 0-1 NJAC), in action for the first time since November 22—a 10-day break—drops its third straight. It was the most turnovers committed since also giving away 31 on January 12, 2008 at Kean University.

In defeat, freshman small forward RASHAWN SMALLS (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson), the NJAC leader in scoring (19.0) and steals (2.75) and second leading rebounder (7.3), who is perhaps the early front-runner for NJAC Rookie of the Year contention, led the Knights with 21 points (8-17 FG), nine rebounds (eight defensive), four steals and three assists in 38 minutes, but committed eight turnovers.

Sophomore guard James Williams (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow), last year's NJAC Rookie of the Year, scored a season-high 26 points, including 16 in the first half as MSU built a 35-24 halftime lead. He shot 10-of-15 in 38 minutes.

NJCU freshman power forward TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) had 12 points (3-4 FG, 4-4 FT), with six rebounds and three blocks. Freshman forward FARRAKHAN WELLS (Newark, NJ/Westside) had nine points, six rebounds and three blocks. Junior point guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) chipped in eight points and freshman guard IBN TOWNES (Newark, NJ/Westside) had seven.

MSU received 13 points (4-6 FG) off the bench from freshman guard Ali Mix (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) while junior forward Daniel McRae (Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) collected 12 points, six rebounds, six steals and four blocks. Senior forward Richard Brown (Newark, NJ/Newark Tech) had nine points and eight rebounds.

NJCU led 15-14 with 11:31 remaining in the first half before MSU went on a 10-0 run to take control of the game. Williams had six points during the spurt, including a pair of buckets that made it 22-15 and two foul shots for a 24-15 advantage. MSU led by 13 before taking an 11-point cushion into the lockerroom.

NJCU committed 17 of its giveaways in the second half. A three-pointer by Williams and two free throws by sophomore center Jon Georges (West Orange, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) helped Montclair build its largest lead at 58-38 with 8:35 remaining. The Gothic Knights sliced that deficit down to 12 with just over five minutes remaining as Abdullah sank two foul shots. But Brown converted a three-point play and McRae finished off a steal and fast-break as the Red Hawks restored the lead to 71-54with 4:21 left. 

MSU and NJCU each shot 46 percent from the field, but the Hawks, who made 25-of-43 from the line (.581), received a 30-13 boost in bench scoring.

                
NJCU will be back in action on Saturday, December 6 at 4 p.m. when it hosts Rutgers University-Camden at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Charlie Brown Court.