New Jersey City University Athletics

 

NEWARK, NJ…New Jersey City University’s men’s basketball team may have picked the wrong time to have its worst shooting performance in more than two years. The Gothic Knights bid for a New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament berth took a serious hit on Wednesday evening, as NJCU shot just 29.7 percent from the field, and Rutgers-Newark led from start to finish, prevailing 70-52, in an NJAC North Division game at The Golden Dome.

 

With the loss, NJCU fell to 14-9 overall and 6-5 in the league with two conference games remaining. The Knights, who have lost five of seven NJAC games since opening the slate 4-0, are tied with Newark for last place in the division—one game behind Montclair State University, which it will meet on February 20. Newark is 13-10 overall and 6-5 in the league as well.

 

NJCU shot below 30 percent for the first time since January 14, 2006, when the Knights made just .281 (18-64) in an 81-65 loss at William Paterson University. It was also the first time since November 18, 2005—a span of 80 games—NJCU did not register a blocked shot.

 

For the second time this season, NJCU failed to have a player in double figures, and each time that has happened, sophomore forward DIVINE LYLES (Watching, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) has been the top scorer. Lyles shot 3-of-3 from the field, including both three-point tries, and led the Knights with nine points in eight minutes off the bench. Senior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) had a team-high nine rebounds to go along with eight points.

 

Junior All-America guard DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) was limited to seven points (2-10 FG), but moved into 15th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,233 points, passing Hall-of-Famer John Celentano (1,230, 1971-74). He also connected on the 199^th three of his career.

 

Three Newark players reached double figures, led by sophomore forward Phil Barnes (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), who posted his fourth double-double of the season with a career-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Chadd Barnes (Newark, NJ/University) tallied 15 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists.

 

Junior forward David Cherry (Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) scored eight of his 12 points in the second half. Senior center Afolabi Ajumobi (Roselle, NJ/Roselle Catholic) contributed seven rebounds, six points and three blocks.

               

Newark jumped out to leads of 10-2, 15-4 and 21-8 to take control of the game early as Phil Barnes and Ajumobi combined for nine points early. The Knights shot 30.0 percent (9-30) from the floor and were out-rebounded, 27-15, to fall behind 35-22 at intermission. Newark led 51-34 with 12:19 left before the Raiders pushed the lead to 28 (62-34) on a Chadd Barnes jumper with 8:11 remaining.

 

Newark shot 48.3 percent overall (29-60) including 57.7 percent in the second half (15-26) and had a 46-22 advantage in points in the paint.

 

NJCU will return to action on Saturday, February 16 at 8 p.m. when it hosts William Paterson in the final home game of the 2008 regular season. It will be Senior Night, as the Knights will honor Hill, and guards AARON DESIR (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) and SHY MARTINEZ (Union City, NJ/Union Hill).