New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

SELINSGROVE, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University received a game-high 22 points from junior swingman #KAIHRIQUE IRICK# (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) and 18 points, six assists and six steals from senior point guard #KEITH WILLIAMS# (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) as the Gothic Knights opened the 79^th season of men's basketball with a 68-64 non-conference victory over Susquehanna University at Houts Gymnasium.
 
NJCU (1-0) gained the lead for good with 2:44 remaining in the first half, led 36-32 at halftime, and never trailed in the second half despite Susquehanna (0-1) never going away. NJCU kept the Crusaders at arm's length throughout the second half, never gaining more than a seven-point margin.
 
NJCU won its first season opener since the 2008-09 season and claimed its first non-neutral court, road season-opener since November 23, 1991 at Bloomfield College; the Knights often open the year in tournaments.
 
It was the first meeting between the schools since a 107-95 double overtime win by SU on November 20, 1993. The all-time series is even, 1-1. NJCU is 5-4 all-time in Selinsgrove, PA, having played in four tournaments at the site prior to tonight's contest.
 
Irick, the highly-touted addition to the lineup, made 9-of-19 shots, finishing with 22 points in 30 minutes, and three steals in his first game as a Gothic Knight. Williams, a Second-Team All-NJAC performer last year, made 5-of-5 from the floor, including all three three-pointers he attempted, and 5-of-6 from the line, and contributed five rebounds in 33 minutes to go along with his assists and steals.
 
Senior forward #TAQUAN ABDULLAH# (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) had nine points, five rebounds and two blocks while junior forward #WALIK ALBRIGHT# (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) added seven points and six rebounds.
 
SU was led by last year's Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, sophomore center Harley Sellinger (Mill Hall, PA), who tallied a double-double of 15 points (5-10 FG) and 10 rebounds (seven defensive). Senior guard Spenser Spencer (Seattle, WA) had 17 points (5-11 FG, 3-5 3FG) for the Crusaders. Sophomore guard Jake Eskin (Germantown, MD) finished with eight points (3-4 FG), five rebounds and four assists.
 
NJCU shot .455 for the game (25-55), overcoming a lackluster effort from three-point range (4-15, .267) and the foul line (.519, 14-27) by forcing the Crusaders into 24 turnovers. NJCU collected 13 steals in the win.
 
There were eight lead changes in the back-and-forth first half. SU led 12-6 less than five minutes into the game. A layup by Abdullah with 7:28 left in the half put NJCU ahead and a three by Williams (5:13) and offensive-rebound and putback by Irick (3:31) gave the Knights one-point leads after the hosts had regained the edge. Trailing by one, Williams drilled a three at the 2:44 mark for a 30-28 advantage. A layup by Abdullah and a steal and fast-break layup by Williams—with both scoring plays coming in the final minute—gave NJCU a six-point cushion before taking a four-point lead to the break.
 
After an opening layup by SU made it a two-point game, the Knights quickly pushed the lead back to six and maintained a consistent one and two-possession lead throughout the second half. A three-point play by Irick at the 12:03 mark, and another Irick jumper at 11:46 made it a 50-43 margin.
 
With 6:30 remaining, Spencer was fouled from three-point range and made each of the attempts. A jumper by Sellinger and Spencer layup with 4:59 remaining cut the lead to one, 54-53.
 
But NJCU responded with layups by Albright and senior transfer center #MATT WASHINGTON# (Hackensack, NJ/Paterson Catholic) to regain a five-point lead with 3:39 left and never led by less than three down the stretch. With NJCU leading 60-57 with 2:42 to go, neither school scored for a stretch of 1:45. Williams drained a three with 57 seconds left before Spencer answered 20 seconds later with his own trey. Williams sank three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal it.
 
NJCU will head to Grantham, PA on November 18-19 for the Homewood Suites by Hilton Tournament, hosted by Messiah College. On Friday, NJCU faces Williamson Trade School at 2 p.m. in the opening round with a matchup against host Messiah or Penn State Wilkes-Barre in the second round.