New Jersey City University Athletics

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BETHLEHEM, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University sophomore shooting guard DAVID COLE (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) forced an extra session with two made free throws with five seconds remaining before becoming one of four Gothic Knights to foul out as host Moravian College held on to defeat NJCU in one overtime, 80-72, in the championship game of the 35^th Annual Greyhound Starters Classic at Johnston Hall on January 3.
 
In the first meeting in 28 years between the schools, Moravian (8-2, won 2) shot 5-of-6 in the extra period as the Gothic Knights (4-8) had three starters foul out while making 1-of-8 from the field in the final five minutes.
 
NJCU, playing in the championship game of a tournament for the second time this season, led 33-27 at halftime after shooting 56.5 percent (13-23) but saw that percentage dwindle to .258 (8-31) in the second period.
 
In defeat, two Gothic Knights earned All-Tournament Team accolades. Freshman shooting guard KHALID MUHAMMAD (Orange, NJ/Orange), a three-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, was named to his second All-Tournament Team this season, finishing with a combined 30 points and 21 rebounds in two contests while sophomore point guard DAKWAN SIMMONS (Newark, NJ/University) was selected after netting 21 points in the tournament.
 
The game was largely contested from the free throw line as the schools were whistled for a combined 57 fouls—33 for NJCU and 24 for Moravian. Both teams had similar percentages, with the Greyhounds making 29-of-42 (.690) and the Knights converting 24-of-35 (.686).
 
Much of the physical play was in the second half with the schools combining to shoot 42-of-58 from the line;  Moravian was 25-of-32 in the second half (.781) and NJCU sank 18-of-26 (.692).
 
Moravian's 80 points are the most by an opponent this season although it took an extra period to exceed the previous high of 77.
 
Moravian sophomore guard Izel Dickerson (Bethlehem, Pa.) earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after scoring a game-best 23 points off the bench in 28 minutes, making 8-of-11 from the field (2-of-5 3FG) and 5-of-6 foul shots, adding four steals and four boards.
 
Muhammad led NJCU in scoring for the ninth time this season and rebounds for the seventh game—reaching double figures on the scoreboard for the ninth time in 12 games to open his career. Muhammad scored 14 points (5-18 FG; 2-3 3FG; 2-7 FT) in a career-high 40 minutes, adding seven rebounds, four steals and two rebounds before fouling out with 43 seconds left in overtime and NJCU trailing by four. He scored nine points in the second half.
 
Simmons reached double figures for the second straight game and third time this season, finishing with 10 points (3-5 FG) and four assists in 20 minutes before fouling out with three minutes left in regulation.
 
Freshman point guard BRENT BURGESS, JR. (Roselle, NJ/Dickinson) entered the contest with just eight points in his first nine collegiate games (high of five on November 16) and no points in his last four contests, before more than doubling his career output on Thursday night with 12 points in 21 minutes, shooting 3-of-6 from the field and 5-of-7 from the line with four steals.
 
Also for the Knights, sophomore power forward DREW MARLEY (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) tallied eight points (3-6 FG) in 20 minutes before fouling out and senior center DAVID JONES (Millville, NJ/Cumberland Regional) chipped in seven rebounds and five points. Cole came off the bench to score eight points in 21 minutes, hitting all six free throws he attempted, before also fouling out late in OT. Freshman power forward FARAJI JAMES (Irvington, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) added a career best seven boards.
 
For Moravian, senior guard D.J. Strayhorn (Swiftwater, Pa.) was also named to the All-Tournament Team with 15 points (4-11 FG; 2-5 3FG; 5-7 FT) in 21 minutes, despite committing seven turnovers. He was the only Moravian player to foul out.
 
The Greyhounds had four players reach double figures as junior center Cameron Cullen (East Islip, NY) had a near double-double of 10 points (4-7 FG) and eight rebounds and junior center Blake English (Sussex, NY) finished with 11 points (6-8 FT) and a pair of blocks. Junior guard Kenny Gula (Quakerstown, PA) tallied nine points.

In a game that saw 11 lead changes and eight ties, NJCU opened up an early 14-7 lead after a jumper by Cole but Moravian pushed back and made it a one-point game on a Dickerson three. Simmons answered with a triple before English (10:08) and Dickerson (9:11) put the hosts in front with a pair of threes for a 19-17 edge.
 
Down 24-23, Burgess drained a three to put NJCU back in front at the 5:00 mark and the Knights scored 10 of the final 13 points of the period to take a six-point, 33-27 cushion to the locker room. Burgess scored eight points in the first half, making all three shots attempted, while Simmons was 3-for-4 for seven points.
 
The Knights maintained a healthy lead for much of the second half, eventually pushing the advantage into double figures with 12:11 left when James sank two from the line for a 50-39 differential.
 
But Moravian answered with a 13-2 run over the next 4:22, tying the game at 52-52 on a three from the corner by Gula; Strayhorn had a three during the run and Cullen had a key three.
 
NJCU reclaimed a four-point lead on two Simmons free throws before assisting on a layup by Jones with 7:21 left  but foul shots by Cullen and Strayhorn tied it. NJCU went back ahead on a jumper by freshman small forward MILTON PITTMAN (New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) before a Muhammad jumper made it a 60-57 game. Strayhorn hit a pair from the line to cut it to 60-59 before a put-back layup from Muhammad pushed the lead to 63-57 with 3:47 left and Simmons hit the front end of two foul shots with 3:14 to go for a five-point, 64-59 edge.
 
But English sank two foul shots with 2:36 left and a three-point play by Dickerson, driving to the basket for a layup and one, tied it at 64-64 with 1:55 to go. Dickerson was fouled again with 43 seconds left and hit both to put the Greyhounds ahead 66-64 before freshman power forward MATT BREWER (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy) sank a layup with 32 seconds left to tie it again.
 
With 12 seconds to go, Gula was fouled and hit both chances to put Moravian back in front, 68-66, before Cole was sent to the stripe with time winding down and drilled both chances to tie it and force overtime.
 
Cole tallied the first points of overtime with two free throws for a 70-68 lead at 3:35 before Dickerson tied it at 3:13. His steal and fast break bucket put Moravian in front to stay with 2:47 remaining before scoring his sixth straight point with 2:03 left for a 74-70 margin. Cullen added another layup for the 76-70 lead with just under a minute to play. Muhammad hit a layup for NJCU with 43 seconds to play but fouled out with 29 seconds left. Dickerson's three-point play with 14 seconds to go sealed the win for the Greyhounds.

NJCU is back in action with its third game in four days on Saturday (January 5) at 4 p.m. when it returns to action at home against defending NJAC champion William Paterson University in the first of two meetings this season.