New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES
POST-GAME INTERVIEWS 'GOTHIC KNIGHT INSIGHTS'


JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In a holiday weekend matchup of a pair of 2011 conference champions, New Jersey City University led by as many as 15 points in the first half and out-rebounded Alvernia University, 46-26, cruising past the Crusaders, 63-49, in a non-conference men's basketball game on Sunday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court.'
 
NJCU, the defending New Jersey Athletic Conference champions, remains perfect, improving to 4-0 while the Crusaders, last year's MAC Commonwealth Conference winners, drop to 1-2. It was the second-ever meeting between the schools and the first matchup in Jersey City; the all-time series is even, 1-1.
 
Senior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) led the effort for NJCU with a game-high 16 points, making 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range with four assists in 33 minutes. He scored 12 first half points, making all four shots he attempted, including three three-pointers.
 
Senior center MATT WASHINGTON (Hackensack, NJ/Paterson Catholic) powered his way to his first double-double as a Gothic Knight, posting career highs of 15 points and 14 rebounds (nine defensive) with two blocks in 22 minutes. The 6-foot-9, 265-pounder made 7-of-8 from the line. He collected eight points and eight rebounds in the first half.
 
Junior swingman WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) contributed his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds—nine on the defensive glass.
 
Also for NJCU, senior forward TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) scored eight points (3-6 FG, two dunks) and junior center DAVID JONES (Millville, NJ/Cumberland Regional) added six points and three blocks in 14 minutes, making all three field goals he attempted. Junior guard NAADIR WILLIAMS (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) chipped in four assists.
 
Sophomore forward Brian Parker (Chichester, PA/Chichester) scored 12 of his team-high 15 points in the second half. He added five rebounds, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor.
 
He was the only player with more than five points for the visitors as NJCU held the Crusaders to 17-of-51 shooting (.333) and 1-of-13 from three-point distance (.077). Alvernia made just 14-of-25 from the line (.560). Senior forward Brian Nerney (Middletown, N/Red Bank Catholic) had a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Each team was missing its top player with junior swingman KAIHRIQUE IRICK (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck), NJCU's top scorer at 17.3 per game and Alvernia senior center Cory Boone (Howard, PA/Bald Eagle Area), an NABC All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection in 2010-11, missing the contest.
 
“It just goes to show the potential of this team,” noted fifth-year head coach MARC BROWN. “Right now we're a decent team. We could be a great team. Sometimes we still have a lack of concentration. But it's early in the year and we'll take the victory.”
 
NJCU, which never trailed, shot 18-of-22 from the foul line or 81.8 percent. NJCU gained a quick 8-2 lead and led 15-6 halfway through the opening period on a three by KEITH WILLIAMS. He buried another trey for an 18-9 lead. Washington grabbed an offensive rebound and powered home two points for a 24-11 cushion with 4:27 to go and sank two from the line for a 15-point, 29-14 advantage with 1:33 on the first half clock. NJCU led 30-21 at halftime.
 
The Knights quickly pushed the lead back to double digits on a fast break slam by Abdullah and never relinquished the sizeable cushion. A steal and fast break dunk by Abdullah made it 38-23. Later, a steal by Williams resulted in a transition basket by Washington, who converted a three-point play with 13 minutes to play. Albright pushed the lead to 17 with 5:49 left before Washington swished a pair of foul shots with 3:45 on the clock for the largest lead of the day, 57-38, eventually cruising to the 14-point win.
 
“Matt played well today,” Brown commented on Washington's effort. “There was no one near his size out there and today he did what we expect him to do—score and rebound.”
 
“But the key to our success continues to be KEITH WILLIAMS, who is playing unbelievably right now. He is one of the best point guards around. He understands the flow of the game and is playing the way we expected when we recruited him out of high school. He is the key to our success, hands down. He is making other people better. He is shooting unbelievably from the field and from three [point range] and had another great game today.”
 
NJCU is off until Saturday, December 3 at 4 p.m. when it opens defense of its NJAC crown against Rowan University in the first conference game of the season. Alvernia opens its conference action on Wednesday, November 30 at 8 p.m. at Widener University.