New Jersey City University Athletics

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ROCHESTER, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rookie shooting guard KHALID MUHAMMAD (Orange, NJ/Orange) scored a career-best 19 points and finished with a combined 37 points in two tournament games but New Jersey City University was unable to overcome a 20-point second half deficit, eventually falling to hosts Nazareth College, 64-58, in the championship game of the Nazareth College Tournament on November 17 at Kidera Gymnasium.
 
Muhammad and senior center DAVID JONES (Millville, NJ/Cumberland Regional) were selected to the All-Tournament Team representing the Gothic Knights who fell to 1-1 with the setback. Nazareth improved to 2-0 and evened the all-time series at 1-1 as the schools were meeting for the second consecutive year.
 
Nazareth shot a blazing 75 percent in the first half on 15-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point distance and 7-of-9 from the line (.778) to surge out to a 42-24 halftime advantage. The Golden Flyers fell back to earth in the second half, shooting just 16.7 percent (3-18) to finish at 47.4 percent for the game (18-38), but the comeback deficit proved to be too large to overcome for the Knights. Naz made 6-of-13 (.462) from three-point distance in the contest.
 
Muhammad shot 7-of-14 overall (3-5 3FG) and scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half. He added five rebounds in 24 minutes. Jones finished the tournament with 19 rebounds, chalking up a team-high eight boards on Saturday, adding five points and two blocks.
 
Sophomore power forward DREW MARLEY (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia), a transfer from William Paterson University, added seven points on 3-of-6 shooting while sophomore point guard DAKWAN SIMMONS (Newark, NJ/University), a transfer from Berkeley College, added six points, four assists and four steals.
 
Nazareth was led by senior guard Tyshun Stephens (Newark, NY) who collected a game-high 23 points (5-11 FG), converting 13-of-17 free throw opportunities with three assists. Junior forward Brad Ford (Victor, NY) notched a double-double with 13 points (5-12 FG, 3-5 3FG) and 12 rebounds (11 defensive) in 37 minutes while junior guard Jack Giles (Fayetteville, NY) chipped in eight points and three assists, making 3-of-4 from the field and a pair of threes.
 
NJCU was called for 11 more fouls than the host Flyers in the game and Naz cashed in, making 22-of-28 foul shots (.786).
 
Naz seized control of the game with its first half three-point shooting, highlighted by runs of 14-0 and 16-1. NJCU led 9-8 before Giles and junior forward Scott Hayford (Wilmington, VT) knocked down outside shots at 15:29 and 14:47 and another three just 20 seconds later by Ford made it 17-9. Giles hit another triple at the 13:07 mark as the lead swelled to 20-9 and eventually stood at 16 points (28-12) on a Ford layup with 7:13 to play.
 
The Knights twice whittled the lead to nine points in the final five minutes before the Flyers banked the final nine points of the period to build an 18-point, 42-24 margin. Stephens scored 14 first half points for the hosts.
 
Naz maintained the double digit lead throughout most of the second half and push the lead to 20 four times—including 62-42 with 5:28 left. Naz still led by 15 with 2:34 remaining (64-49) before NJCU rang up the final nine points of the contest but ran out of time in its late rally bid. Sophomore guard DAVID COLE (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) sank two three-pointers in the final five minutes.
 
NJCU will return home and open its 10-game home schedule and 18-game New Jersey Athletic Conference slate when it hosts #17 ranked Ramapo College on Tuesday, November 20 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on “Coach Charlie Brown Court.” All ticket sales from the game will be donated by the NJCU Department of Athletics to a charity benefitting Hurricane Sandy victims.