BROOKLYN, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Brooklyn College used a 17-4 run midway through the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into a narrow lead and held off the New Jersey City University men's basketball team late for a 94-86 win in a non-conference contest on November 18.
 
It was the 2015-16 season opener for NJCU (0-1). Brooklyn, which won its first two games of the season by double figures, knocking off RIT (91-68) and Case Western Reserve (92-79), improved to 3-0. The Bulldogs shot 43 free throws in the game, making 34 (.791) and prevailed despite NJCU shooting 54.2 percent (32-59).
 
The Bulldogs had five players score in double figures with two scoring 20+. NJCU placed four in double figures. The Gothic Knights shot 16-of-20 from the line (.800).
 
BC shot 52.9 percent (27-51), converting 58.3 percent of its shots in the second half (14-24) when it sank 21-of-26 from the line (.808).
 
Lorenzo Williams scored 25 points in 28 minutes for the hosts, hitting 7-of-9 from the field and 9-of-9 from the line with three assists. Egzon Gjonbalaj netted 21 points (5-11 FG), with 10-of-12 free throw accuracy, and dished five assists in 33 minutes. Jamel Gist collected 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 8-of-12 from the line, and came up big in the late minutes with nine consecutive points.
 
NJCU senior power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter), in his first game for the Knights since 2013-14, was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and scored a career-high 20 points in 25 minutes—quadrupling his previous career best of five points.
 
Junior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) netted 17 points (5-of-8 FG), including 3-of-5 three-point shooting and 4-of-4 free throw accuracy in 36 minutes. Junior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, NJ/East Side) was 8-for-8 from the foul line, scoring 12 points in 21 minutes with three assists and three steals. Freshman center Jeremiah Boone-Alexandre (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) was 5-for-5 from the floor and scored 10 points in 17 minutes. Freshman small forward James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden) finished with seven points, seven rebounds and three assists.
 
Other contributors for Brooklyn included Dillon Williams with 11 points (3-7 FG, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Edon Gjonbalaj added 10 points (5-6 FG).
 
There were six ties in the first half—the last at 32-32. Up by three (39-36), NJCU scored eight of the next nine to claim a 10-point margin (47-37) with 3:16 to play on a steal and layup by Robinson. NJCU led by as much as 11 before heading to the half with a 49-42 advantage.
 
NJCU led 53-44 before the Bulldogs used an 11-2 run to pull even at 55-55 with 14:31 to play. Williams scored six during the streak. Even at 57-57, BC collected nine of the next 11 to claim a 66-59 edge with 9:09 left. The series was capped by a three by Egzon Gjonbalaj.
 
NJCU fought back, with Boone-Alexandre scoring twice on plays assisted by freshman Tyler Caldwell (Jersey City, NJ/Henry Snyder), and a Wosu steal and layup. Williams hit a three before Wosu converted two foul shots then scored with 6:27 left to give the Knights their final lead (73-72).
 
Gist hit two big shots—a steal and fast-break bucket at 5:31 and a three with 4:49 to play for a 77-73 lead, then hit back-to-back jumpers to push the margin to six (81-75) as he netted nine straight for Brooklyn. NJCU drew within three with 1:19 left but couldn't get any closer and BC sealed it at the line.
 
#KnightNotes:

• NJCU leads the all-time series, 14-6. First meeting in 1963.
• Khalid Muhammad scored six points. He has 1,054 for his career. He is 24th in school history. George Thomas is 23rd with 1,069 points (1999-03).

 
What's Next?:
NJCU plays in the first of two tournaments on November 20-21 in the Townes Place Suites Tip-Off Tournament at Messiah. For the second year in a row in an early-season tournament, NJCU will face a stern test in Franklin & Marshall College, one of the tough, young teams in the country, when the squads meet on Friday, November 20 at 6 p.m. in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The Diplomats were ranked No. 19 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll. F&M (2-0) leads the all-time series, 3-0. NJCU will meet either Messiah or Lancaster Bible in the second round on November 21.