New Jersey City University Athletics

• BOX SCORE
• ARCHIVED GAME BROADCAST

The 2009 portion of the New Jersey City University men's basketball schedule saw the Gothic Knights play the way 2008 ended—with a regional road setback. Two College of Staten Island players scored 24 points as the Dolphins shot 57.1 percent from three-point range and used an 11-0 run late in the first half to take control of the game, stunning NJCU, 82-76, in a non-conference game at the CSI Sports & Recreation Center.

NJCU, playing its first game since December 16—an 18-day layoff—falls to 3-5 overall and 0-5 in road and neutral site games. Staten Island, which had entered 1-8 overall, picks up its second consecutive win, improving to 2-8. In the first meeting between the schools since November 2006, NJCU continues to lead the all-time series, 12-5.

CSI led by nine at halftime, 43-34 and led by as many as 19 points midway through the second half. Four players fouled out for NJCU as the Knights committed at least 29 fouls in a game for the third time this year. CSI capitalized by shooting 24-of-33 from the line, a .727 percentage. NJCU was 16-of-22 in free throws, also .727.

The Dolphins were led by the play of sophomore point guard Ryan Hennessey (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea), who collected 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting, and 8-of-9 from the line. He added seven rebounds and four assists while playing a full 40 minutes. He had 16 points in the first half.

CSI sophomore swingman Christian Montervino (Trenton, NJ/Ewing) also scored 24, including 14 in the second period, connecting on 8-of-16 overall, 4-of-7 from three-point distance and 4-of-5 from the line with three assists in 40 minutes.

CSI freshman forward Jordan Young (Asbury Park, NJ/Wall) scored all 13 of his points in the second half, adding three assists. Junior guard Ibrahim Eleham (Brooklyn, NY/Fort Hamilton) had eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

For NJCU, senior guard KYLE INGRAM (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) scored 12 of his team-best 20 points in the first half. He shot 8-of-16 overall and 3-of-8 from three-point distance with five assists in 39 minutes before fouling out. Four-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, freshman small forward RASHAWN SMALLS (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson), had 15 of his 19 points in the second half, making 7-of-18 overall (5-5 FT) with a game-high nine rebounds.

Also for NJCU, junior point guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) added 13 of his 15 points in the second half (5-9 FG), shooting 3-of-6 from long distance while adding five assists before fouling out. Freshman guard IBN TOWNES (Newark, NJ/West Side), making his first career start, added 10 points (3-5 FG, 4-4 FT) and three steals.

NJCU twice led by six points in the first half, including 18-12 with 10:02 remaining. But CSI, which had been outscored by 20.2 points per game coming in, began hitting threes as Montervino and sophomore guard Dale Taranto (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) hit back-to-back shots to tie the game and helped generate an 11-0 run capped on a three-point play by Hennessey for a 23-18 lead.

An Ingram triple cut it to one and a Smalls layup kept it a two-point game, 32-30 with 4:01 left before the Dolphins scored 11 of the final 15 points in the period for a nine-point cushion.

CSI's lead increased to 47-34 (13) on a Montervino jumper just 1:27 into the second half. NJCU scored eight of the next nine and a Lopez three cut it to 48-42 before CSI took control for good with a 10-0 spurt over a span of 2:36. Montervino had eight of the 10 points, including back-to-back threes. CSI led by 19 (70-51) with 8:41 left. A late surge allowed the Knights to draw within five points on two occasions but they could not rally any further. Smalls had 10 of NJCU's final 20 points.

NJCU returns home where it is 3-0 on Wednesday, January 7 at 8 p.m. in an NJAC North Division game against William Paterson University (9-1), winners of seven straight, on Charlie Brown Court at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 —www.njcugothicknights.com—