New Jersey City University Athletics

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POMONA, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...NCAA Division III men's basketball has an old friend back because New Jersey City University is for real. The Gothic Knights shot 68.8 percent from three-point range (11-16) and 60.5 percent from the field, highlighted by a 17-point, 5-for-5 three-point outburst by senior guard KYLE INGRAM (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) and 16 points from senior point guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) as NJCU stunned nationally #8 ranked Richard Stockton College, 76-71, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools, Saturday at the Stockton Sports Center.

 

NJCU (5-1, 1-0 NJAC) wins its fifth consecutive game while knocking off a nationally ranked opponent on the road for the first time since 2003. Stockton (5-2, 0-1 NJAC), the 2009 national finalist and two-time defending NJAC champions, ranked No. 8 by D3hoops.com, had entered the game winning 24 of its last 25 on its home floor. NJCU also snapped Stockton's three-game winning streak in a series the Knights now lead 40-28.

 

The win by NJCU was its first over any ranked team since a 56-42 decision against William Paterson University in Jersey City on January 20, 2007 and the first on the road since a 92-79 win at #10 Ramapo College on November 25, 2003.

 

One game after tying the school record for free throws made and breaking the mark for free throws attempted, the Gothic Knights achieved another school record for highest three-point field goal percentage in a game with at least 10 attempts. The 68.8 percent rate obliterated the previous mark of 62.5 percent (10-16) at Rutgers-Camden on January 4, 2005. That game was also the last time NJCU shot at least 60 percent for an entire contest, making 60.6 percent, prior to today's 26-43, 60.5 percent showing. In all, NJCU posted assists on 19 of its 26 field goals.

 

NJCU shot 77.8 percent from three-point distance in the second half (7-9) after making 4-of-7 (.571) in the first half. The Knights shot 16-of-26 from the field in the opening period (.615) and 10-of-17 in the second stanza (.588).

 

Third-year head coach MARC BROWN said: “This is obviously the best win of my coaching career so far. Today we took the first step to getting back to being one of the top programs in the league. We lost some respect last year [going 10-15 overall, 4-9 NJAC] and it was a big drop off for us. But I had a good feeling about this team. This is a better group with more depth. Even guys at the end of our bench will help us. Hopefully, we will [continue] to open up some eyes in the NJAC. To shoot over 60 percent from the field is a great day.”

 

For the second consecutive game against a team which went deep into last year's NCAA Tournament, NJCU exploded out of the gates early for a big lead. NJCU, which had gained a 20-4 lead against Elite 8 qualifier Farmingdale State just two days ago, surged ahead 22-9. Stockton and NJCU would eventually trade the lead seven times in a game in which there were four ties.

 

Ingram, who averaged 12.6 per game last year, had struggled mightily to open the year, and entered having converted just 2-of-21 from three-point distance (.095), came out of hibernation in a big way. He had 17 points in 23 minutes, knocking down all five threes he attempted, while shooting 6-of-8 from the field.

 

Lopez, who has averaged 16.0 points per game during NJCU's five-game winning streak, made 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 threes, while sinking all four free throws for a 16-point, five-assist performance. It was his second straight five-assist effort.

 

“Josh has been playing well and is starting to shoot well, but the key today was Kyle,” Brown noted. “He's been open all year and hasn't taken bad shots. He's just been missing. Today, he made his shots and made them at crucial spots.”

 

Junior small forward ANTOINE ROGERS (Trenton, NJ/Ewing) also played a key role off the bench, notching nine points on 3-of-4 three-point shooting, with two assists in 17 minutes. He has knocked down six of his last seven triple attempts.

 

Freshman power forward ISAIAH JOHNSON (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) had eight points (3-3 FG) and three rebounds while sophomore center TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) collected eight points (3-4 FG), all coming in the first half. Senior point guard PAT DEVANEY (Bayonne, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) delivered a career-high five assists in only seven minutes.

 

A key to NJCU's win was the ability to contain the 2009 NJAC Player of the Year and 2009-10 D3hoops.com Fourth-Team Preseason All-American Santini Lancioni (Runnemede, NJ/Paul VI). The senior point guard had 10 points and six assists, but was forced into six turnovers, shot 4-of-11 from the field and 2-of-7 from long range.

 

“That was a key to me,” Brown added. “We contained Lancioni. He is a real good player. We didn't cause as many turnovers today [as in the first five games of the year] because they have the best point guard in the league, but we rattled them and took them out of their rhythm.”

 

Junior guard Kai Massaquoi (Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights), the 2009 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, collected game-highs of 19 points (4-6 FG) and five rebounds in 37 minutes. He shot 11-of-13 from the line.

 

Also for the Ospreys, junior guard Michael Farrow (Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Township), an Honorable Mention All-NJAC selection last year, had 12 points (5-8 FG) while sophomore forward DiAndre Brown (Sicklerville, NJ/Camden County Tech) added 10 points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3FG) before fouling out.

 

Sophomore guard Pat Kelly (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) and sophomore center Matt Haddix (Sicklerville, NJ/Vineland) combined for 15 points, but senior forward Omar Smith (Newark, NJ/Central)—also an Honorable Mention All-NJAC pick last year—was limited to three points (1-5 FG) and four rebounds.

After Stockton scored first, Lopez hit a three to open a 12-1 run that saw the Knights grab a 12-3 lead. Lopez made another jumper before Ingram hit his first three (16:48), Abdullah scored on a fast-break off an Ingram steal and rookie small forward WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) sank two foul shots.

 

Stockton cut it to seven before Lopez (11:43) and Rogers (10:55) drilled back-to-back threes for a 22-9 advantage. Johnson made a jumper for a 24-11 edge and Rogers set up freshman power forward TERRENCE DOCTOR (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy) for a bucket to give NJCU its largest lead of the game—a 15-point, 26-11 margin.

 

With 5:43 left in the first half, NJCU continued to lead by 13 on a Johnson layup (32-19). But Kelly made a three and Massaquoi added two foul shots to drop it to single digits. Stockton would run off a 16-2 spurt to regain a 35-34 lead. A Farrow jumper made it 32-27 and Massaquoi collected a three-point play before Farrow hit a three with 3:01 left in the half to cut it to 34-33. Haddix made two foul shots with 2:06 left.

 

Junior small forward JOSH CAVER (Trenton, NJ/Fairless Hills (Pennsbury, PA)) and sophomore small forward ASAD FAISON (Salisbury, NC/West Rowan (NC)) twice put NJCU back in front before Ingram scored off a Devaney feed with six seconds left in the period, as the Knights went to the break leading by three, 40-37.

 

Just 11 second into the second half, Ingram dropped another three and Albright made one free throw for a seven point lead (44-37). But the experienced Ospreys bounced right back, uncorking a 12-0 run for a 49-44 lead (15:59 left). After a Farrow jumper, Lancioni sank back-to-back threes for a 45-44 lead, and Smith and Massaquoi each added field goals. Rogers hit a three to snap the streak and junior shooting guard COREY DIXON (Linden, NJ/David Brearley) hit another trey with 14:21 left, cutting the deficit to one (51-50). Buckets by Haddix and Farrow kept the lead at three and Haddix had a free throw before Johnson and Doctor scored transition baskets to tie it at 56-56 with 10:00 remaining.

 

A three by Brown made it 60-56 and Massaquoi sank four more free throws for leads of 62-58 (8:26 left) and 64-61 (7:48) before connecting on a pair of foul shots with 6:58 remaining for a five-point advantage, 66-61.

 

But NJCU demonstrated its resiliency, exploding for an 11-2 run to regain the lead for good. Ingram drilled a triple making it 66-64 (6:34) and Rogers followed with a go-ahead three (67-66, 5:02). Haddix gave Stockton its final lead of the game with 4:28 left (68-67) before Ingram drained yet another three for a 70-68 advantage with 4:07 left. Lopez extended the cushion to four, 72-68, with two foul shots.

 

Kelly hit another three with 2:07 remaining to make it a one-point game. But with 1:33 left Lopez drilled a critical, spinning, 16-foot jumper from the left of the lane for a 74-71 lead. Stockton failed to score on its next four shots, including two three-point tries, and Lopez sealed the win with two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining for the 76-71 result.

 

NJCU is 3-0 at home and returns to action on Tuesday, December 8 at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game against Brooklyn College (3-3) at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.