BOX SCORE
MAHWAH, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University senior point guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) delivered a team-best 17 points, including the 150th three-pointer of his career, but NJCU never led and dropped a 75-60 decision to Ramapo College in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division game on Wednesday night at the Bill Bradley Center. It was the 75th meeting all-time between the North Jersey rivals.
With the loss, NJCU (9-7, 3-3 NJAC) has its four game winning streak snapped. Ramapo (13-4, 4-2 NJAC), has won four of its last five. NJCU continues to lead the all-time series by a substantial margin, 58-17.
NJCU had entered the game allowing just 38 points in each of its last two games—the first time since 1941-42 that its defense has held consecutive opponents below 40—and just 27 points combined in the first half of its last two games. But RCNJ ended both streaks, scoring 44 in the first half, before finishing the game shooting 50 percent (27-54) from the field and 75.0 percent (21-28) at the line.
Lopez finished with a team-best 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point distance, with two assists and two steals. His second three of the night with 1:18 left in the first half was the 150th of his career and he added another for #151. Only Dana John (209 threes, 2005-08) and Mark Washington (160 threes, 2002-06) had more in a career.
Also for NJCU, freshman power forward TERRENCE DOCTOR (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy) collected eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in eight reserve minutes. Three-time NJAC Rookie of the Week, freshman power forward ISAIAH JOHNSON (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus), who missed the last two outings with an illness, contributed a team-high six rebounds with four points in a light 14 minutes.
NJCU had all 16 players who dressed see at least five minutes of action and 13 different players scored, as the Knights received 36 of their 60 points from the reserves. But no other player managed more than four points.
Ramapo sophomore center LaQuan Peterkin (Paterson, NJ/Kennedy), the NJAC's leading scorer and second-leading rebounder at 17.8 points and 8.5 caroms per contest, led the hosts with a game-best 24 points on 8-of-12 from the field and 8-of-10 free-throw shooting, while adding nine caroms (seven defensive) in 28 minutes.
RCNJ had four players in double figures. Sophomore forward Davian Plunkett (Paterson, NJ/Kennedy) had 13 points (6-9 FG), six rebounds, five steals and three blocks. Senior guard Andre Kenny (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) tallied 10 points (4-15 FG), five assists and four rebounds and senior forward Isaiah Lynch (Linden, NJ/St. Mary's) chipped in 10 points (4-9 FG) and five rebounds. RCNJ's top four scorers accounted for 57 of its 75 points.
Other than an early tie, RCNJ led the entire contest. While it was still a manageable deficit at 26-17 with 6:37 to go, Ramapo uncorked a 14-0 run to claim a 40-17, 23-point advantage with 2:56 left. That was its largest lead of the night.
NJCU trailed 44-27 at the half and came within 13, when Lopez sank a jumper just 2:09 into the second period, for a 46-33 difference. But Peterkin scored a three-point play to extend it to 49-33 and the Knights were unable to come closer than 13 points again the remainder of the game. Ramapo, which only attempted three three-pointers all game, held a 15-2 margin in second chance points in the win.
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, January 23 at 4 p.m. when it hosts Rowan University in an NJAC game on “Coach Charlie Brown Court” at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center in Jersey City, NJ.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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RAMAPO
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Score
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60
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75
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Half-Time Score
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27
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44
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Field Goal Percentage
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.390 (23-59)
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.500 (27-54)
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Three-Point Percentage
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.250 (3-12)
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.000 (0-3)
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Free Throw Percentage
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.786 (11-14)
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.750 (21-28)
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Rebounds (O-D-T)
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13-17-30
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13-26-39
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Assists
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8
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12
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Turnovers
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18
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18
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Blocks
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2
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5
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Steals
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8
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8
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Fouls
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25
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16
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Largest Lead
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None
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23
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Points in the Paint
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14
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36
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Points off Turnovers
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20
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24
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Second Change Points
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2
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15
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Fast Break Points
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Not tracked
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by Ramapo
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Bench Points
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36
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16
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