New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

GALLOWAY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University was able to whittle a 15-point second half deficit to just three points with 5:36 remaining before No. 3 seeded Richard Stockton College managed to hold off the sixth-seeded Gothic Knights, 55-51, in the 2013 New Jersey Athletic Conference Quarterfinals played on February 16 at the Stockton Sports Center.
 
NJCU (14-12), which recovered from an 0-7 start in the NJAC in early January to qualify for the league tournament by three games over seventh-place Rutgers-Camden, had its dream of a record 13^th NJAC championship thwarted and its seven-game winning streak dating to January 23 snapped. NJCU was making its 26^th appearance in the NJAC Tournament since the event began in 1978.
 
The Knights will wait until Monday, February 25 to learn if their season will continue in the ECAC Division III Metro Tournament, which begins on February 27.
 
Stockton (19-6), the 2012 league runner-up, advances to the NJAC Semifinals on February 19 where it will face second-seeded Rutgers-Newark (19-6) in Newark, NJ. The Ospreys improved to 13-1 at home with the win.
 
NJCU saw its single-season record scoring defense decline even further to 57.8 points per game, as the Knights held an opponent to 60 or less points for the 17^th time this season, but lost for the just third time (10-3) when holding a team to 55 or fewer points. NJCU entered the game ranked No. 11 in Division III in scoring defense.
 
While six-time NJAC Rookie of the Week KHALID MUHAMMAD (Orange, NJ/Orange) had yet another outstanding performance with a game-high 19 points (7-17 FG) and six rebounds before fouling out in the final minute, no other Gothic Knight reached double figures. Muhammad reached double figures in scoring for the 22^nd time in 26 games  this year and led the club in points for a 20^th time.
 
The playoff contest was largely won at the foul line where Stockton was awarded more than three times as many free throws as NJCU and converted four times as many attempts. The Ospreys shot 24-for-36 overall (.667)—an equal 12-for-18 in each half. The Knights were issued only three first half free throw opportunities, eight in the second half and 11 for the game (6-for-11, .545).
 
“Khalid [Muhammad] played well and scored well, and Asmar [Edwards] came in with a lot of heart,” said sixth-year head coach Marc Brown. “But the moment was too big and the lights were too bright for some of these guys. The stage was too big.”
 
Discussing the final five minutes when NJCU was able to cut the Stockton lead to three, Brown added: “We had some big turnovers at the end. Stockton made some big plays and we didn't make the plays we needed to make to win. Our lack of experience showed tonight.”
 
Other than Muhammad, the next highest scorer was freshman guard BRENT BURGESS, JR. (Roselle, NJ/Dickinson)   
Stockton was led by junior guard Kevin Johnson (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) with 17 points (4-7 FG), including 9-of-10 foul shooting, with six defensive rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Josh Blamon (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) added 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (2-5 3FG) and was 3-of-7 at the line.
 
Also for Stockton, junior forward Nnamdi Usuwa (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) had a game-high 10 rebounds (seven defensive) with eight points. Senior guard Darnell McCargo (Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood) finished with seven points.
 
While NJCU did briefly lead early, it quickly fell behind, 11-5, after an 8-2 run that saw Johnson and Blamon score six of those points. A three by Muhammad cut the deficit to 15-11 with 10:42 to go in the half and NJCU remained within three points, 19-16, on a triple by sophomore guard DAVID COLE (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) with 6:29 on the clock. But Stockton scored 10 of the final 13 points of the first half for a 10-point, 29-19 halftime advantage. NJCU did not score in the final 4:09 of the opening half. Blamon scored 12 in the first half for the hosts.
 
“We came out flat in the first half and they had more energy and played harder,” Brown observed, “They got every 50-50 ball and I was happy to only be down by 10 [at the half]. Khalid got two quick fouls and we had to leave him out there because he was the only one scoring and Asmar was the only one showing toughness on defense.”
 
After scoring the final five points of the first half, Stockton tallied seven of the first 11 points of the second half to gain a 13-point advantage as McCargo scored all seven of his points in a stretch of 2:01—a three-pointer and two fast-break layups. Two foul shots by Johnson with 14:06 to go gave Stockton its largest lead of the day at 15 points, 41-26.
 
Still trailing by 13 with 11:49 to play, Muhammad, who played 16 minutes in the first half with two fouls, began igniting his team. His jumper and three-pointer made it a 43-35 game with 10:41 to play and the top scoring freshman in the NJAC hit another jumper with 7:19 to play to make it a six-point game, 45-39. Three seconds later, Muhammad hit a pair of foul shots to make the deficit four (45-41). Senior forward JOSH CAVER (Trenton, NJ/Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.) hit a jumper for 47-43 before Edwards hit the front end of two foul shots with 5:36 to play for a 47-44 differential and the closest margin of the second half. Muhammad scored nine of his points during what proved to be a 14-4 run.
 
But Stockton wouldn't give up the lead and despite not scoring a field goal in the final 6:58 of the game, converted its final eight points of the game (12 attempts) from the foul line. Usuwa made two with 3:43 to go and Johnson added two more with 2:39 left to extend the lead to 51-44 before Usuwa hit the back end of two free throws for an eight-point, 52-44 margin with 2:09 remaining.
 
The Knights went 4:29 without a field goal and were held scoreless for a stretch of 3:48. Burgess gave NJCU a final chance with 54 seconds to play when he hit a layup and was fouled, before converting the three-point play to make it a four-point, 53-49 contest. Edwards blocked a shot with 27 seconds left and got the defensive rebound but turned it over and the Ospreys iced the game at the stripe.
 
“Hopefully we'll get into the ECACs,” Brown said. “I think we deserve to get in, but we'll see. Our next goal is to win the ECAC championship and that would be a nice end to the season. With this group, I think they'll work hard and they're not ready for the season to be over.”