New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

HUNTINGDON, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University rallied from a 15-point deficit with nine minutes to play and drew within two points with 3:10 remaining, but could only score once in the final three minutes as Ithaca College upset the previous undefeated Gothic Knights, 78-73, in the opening round of the 2011 Comfort Inn Doc Green Tournament at Juniata College on Friday night.
 
NJCU, facing a 2011 NCAA Division III qualifier for the third time this season, falls to 6-1. Ithaca (3-5), one of the most successful Empire 8 conference programs, won 20 games a year ago and qualified for the NCAA Tournament but had gotten off to a rough start to the 2011-12 season before Friday's win. It was the first-ever meeting between NJCU and Ithaca.
 
NJCU will face Penn State-Mont Alto in the consolation game of the tournament on Saturday at 2 p.m. Juniata won the second game of the day, 71-55. NJCU has never faced PSU-Mont Alto.
 
Once again, NJCU's starters produced much of the Knights' offense, compiling 66 of its 73 points. Junior swingman KAIHRIQUE IRICK (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) led NJCU in scoring, registering 21 points and five rebounds on 10-of-23 shooting.
 
Junior swingman WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) provided 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and five rebounds. Senior forward TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) added 11 points while senior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) chipped in 10 points, including a pair of threes (2-4).
 
Ithaca proved to be a formidable opponent and the Bombers received 50 points and 15 rebounds from two players. Junior forward Andrei Oztemel (Westport, CT) netted 26 points on 7-of-16 shooting (3-10 3FG), including a perfect 9-for-9 from the line, with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
 
Sophomore center Frank Mitchell (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) chalked up a double-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds (seven defensive) and three steals and hit 10-of-13 from the field.
 
Ithaca also received 10 points from senior guard Jordan Marcus (West Orange, NJ/Solomon Schechter) while junior  guard Sean Rossi (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Sparta) contributed eight points, six assists and five rebounds.
 
Ithaca largely won the game from the foul line, making 16-of-20 attempts (.800). NJCU shot 11 free throws, converting six. Each school shot well with the Knights making 31-of-64 (48.4 percent) and Ithaca successful on 27-of-56 (48.2 percent).
 
The Bombers led 41-34 at halftime after shooting 52 percent in the period (13-25), including 5-of-11 from three-point range. Ithaca made 10-of-11 from the line in the half (90.9 percent) and had an 18-12 edge in rebounding. NJCU shot 15-of-33 (45.5 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Tied at 14-14, Ithaca scored 11 of the next 13 points as Oztemel sank a pair of threes and Marcus hit a triple, for a 25-16 margin with 8:59 left in the first half. Ithaca pushed the lead to 10 on five occasions in the half before taking a seven-point lead to the break.
 
In the second half, Ithaca widened the lead to 13 when Rossi hit an NBA range three while wide open on the right wing, for a 50-37 edge. NJCU drew as close as eight with 9:43 left before seven straight points, capped by a three by sophomore guard Christian Jordan (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), made it a 15-point, 72-57 game, with 8:41 to play.
 
But the Knights battled back, reeling off a 14-1 run to claw back into the game. An offensive rebound and putback by rookie forward JAQUAN COOK (New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) and fast break dunk by Abdullah made it 72-61. A layup by Cook with 5:51 left and a steal and fast-break layup by Albright, splitting two defenders with 5:09 to play, made it a six-point game (72-66) before Williams buried a three off a cross court pass with 3:48 on the board and the deficit 73-69. Williams calmly sank an open jumper with 3:10 left to bring the Knights to the verge of the comeback, trailing by just two, 73-71.
 
But Ithaca answered 30 seconds later as Marcus knocked down a decisive three, elevating the lead to five, 76-71. From there, the Knights had several chances to score but couldn't capitalize. After a timeout with 51 seconds left, the Knights couldn't get a pair of inside shots to fall but got the ball back after a turnover with 20.4 seconds remaining. Irick made it a three-point game with 5.9 seconds left before Oztemel hit a pair of foul shots to ice the win.