New Jersey City University Athletics

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MAHWAH, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Four-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week KHALID MUHAMMAD (Orange, NJ/Orange) scored 19 of his career-high 24 points in the first half to stake  New Jersey City University to a seven-point halftime margin before the Knights shot 23.5 percent in the second half, allowing nationally #12 ranked Ramapo College the breathing room necessary to rally for a 60-54 victory in a NJAC men's basketball game on January 16 at the Bill Bradley Center.
 
NJCU (7-10, 2-8 NJAC) had its three-game winning streak snapped as it shot below 30 percent for the fifth time this season, shooting 28.4 percent overall (19-67). NJCU, facing a nationally-ranked opponent for the third time this season, fell to 1-2 in those games. Ramapo, ranked #12 nationally in the latest D3hoops.com national poll, improved to 15-2 overall and 9-1 in the league.

The 60 points were tied for second fewest scoring this season by a Ramapo team that had been averaging 79.2 points per game this year and ranked 38^th nationally in scoring offense. Ramapo was held to its second lowest field goal percentage of the season, shooing 36.2 percent (17-47) and it's 15.4 percent three-point shooting was a season low (2-13)
 
Muhammad scored 19 of NJCU's 31 first-half points and reached the 20-point threshold for the second time in his career as he notched a game-best 24 points on 8-of-22 shooting (2-6 3FG; 6-8 FT) with eight rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes. It was his 12^th double-figure effort of the season.
 
Newcomer and rookie guard RONDRE KELLY (Union, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) added his second double-figure effort in three games as a Knight, dropping a dozen points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of reserve time, while  shooting 5-of-11 overall and 2-of-5 from three-point distance. Junior guard ASMAR EDWARDS (Paterson, NJ/John F. Kennedy) chipped in seven rebounds, five points and two assists.
 
Two players registered double-doubles for the Roadrunners, led by senior guard Garret Thiel (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) with 17 points (5-10 FG, 7-11 FT), 10 rebounds (eight defensive), three assists and two steals in 36 minutes.
 
Senior forward Elgin Brown (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson), who had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the first meeting of the year, generated 13 rebounds (10 defensive), 11 points and four steals in 26 minutes.
 
Also for Ramapo, senior forward Stephon Treadwell (Newark, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) chipped in 11 points (3-7 FG, 5-12 FT). Ramapo senior guard Will Sanborn (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional), a D3hoops.com Preseason Third-Team All-American, finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals but shot 2-of-13 overall and 1-of-8 from long-range.
 
Muhammad scored six of NJCU's first seven points, eight of 12, 13 of 19 and 15 of 23 in the most impressive period of basketball of his career.
 
NJCU fell behind early, 8-4, before gaining its first lead, 9-8. A three by Sanborn made it 13-10, Ramapo, and a jumper by Thiel kept the lead at three, 15-12, with 12:26 to play in the period.
 
The Knights scored seven of the next nine points to move ahead 19-17. A jumper by Kelly (11:54) and a Muhammad triple for his 17^th points put NJCU in front, 17-15, before Muhammad scored again at the midway mark of the half. Ramapo briefly regained a 21-19 cushion.
 
NJCU uncorked a 12-3 run in the final 7:32 of the period to build a 31-24 advantage at the break, with half those points contributed by Muhammad. His basket with 4:17 to play put NJCU back on top and Kelly drilled a three with 2:47 to go for a 27-21 edge. Leading 27-24 with 1:07 to go, Muhammad scored the final four points of the half—scoring at the 50 second mark before sinking foul shots for his 18^th and 19^th points with 14 seconds on the board.
 
NJCU led by seven at the half despite only shooting 11-of-33 (.333) in the period. Muhammad made seven of those shots on 11 opportunities
 
Ramapo slowly chipped into the lead in the early stages of the second half and forced the sixth tie of the game with 13:11 left on a three-point play by Treadwell for a 37-37 deadlock. He scored again a minute later (12:15) to give RCNJ its first lead of the second half (39-37) before Kelly drained a three at 11:55 to put NJCU back on top by one.
 
Thiel forced the game's seventh tie with 9:34 to go and hit two more foul shots at 8:50 to put Ramapo back in front, 42-40. Ramapo scored seven straight points and Thiel's basket with 6:57 to go gave the hosts a 46-40 edge. Five straight points by sophomore guard DAKWAN SIMMONS (Newark, NJ/University), including a triple, cut the deficit to 46-45 and Simmons hit another shot with 3:05 to go to keep the deficit at one, 51-50.
 
While Muhammad struggled in the second half, shooting 1-of-11 in the period, his lone basket with 2:13 to play forced the eighth tie of the night, at 52-52.
 
But Ramapo would score eight of the final 10 points of the contest and won the game at the line. RCNJ shot 41 free throws in the game, making 24; the Knights were only issued 18 free throws (11-18, .611).
 
With 1:54 to play, Brown grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled, sinking his two chances to put Ramapo back in front to stay.  NJCU missed its next shot and with 47 seconds to play, junior guard Patrick O'Connell (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South), who scored five points in the game, hit a dagger three that put the Roadrunners  up by five, 57-52. Ramapo hit three more foul shots in the final minute to seal the win.
 
NJCU is back in action on Saturday, January 16 at 1 p.m. when it faces Rowan University in the first game of a doubleheader in Glassboro, NJ. On December 1, Rowan won the first meeting between the schools, 67-57.