GRANTHAM, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  Junior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) scored a game-high 26 points in just his second game as a member of the New Jersey City University men's basketball program and senior power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter) produced his first career double-double, but No. 19 ranked Franklin & Marshall pulled away from the Gothic Knights in the late first and early second half in a 79-67 outcome on November 20. The game was the opening round of the Townes Place Suites Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Messiah College.
 
NJCU (0-2) will face host Messiah in the tournament's consolation game at 1 p.m. on November 21 after the Falcons were upset by Lancaster Bible College, 82-67. The Diplomats (3-0), ranked No. 19 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll, play Lancaster Bible in the championship game.
 
In a physical contest, the clubs combined for 63 fouls (NJCU, 32; F&M, 31) and 79 free throws; NJCU shot 22-of-36 (.800) with the Diplomats making 31-of-43 (.721). Three NJCU players fouled out.
 
Harris, who scored 17 in his Gothic Knight debut on November 18, scored 15 of his 26 in the second half and shot 9-of-17 (2-6 3FG) and 6-of-10 from the line with two blocks in 36 minutes. Wosu, who scored 20 in the season opener in his first game in two years, scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds (10 defensive). He is now 15-of-17 from the field (.882) in his first two games.
 
NJCU, which was facing the Diplomats in a tournament for the second year in a row, had a brief lead with 5:38 left in the first half and the clubs were tied for the eighth time at 24-24. But F&M used an 8-0 run, including six foul shots, to take the lead for good, 31-24. The Knights drew with four (31-27, 2:37) before F&M finished the half on a 7-2 run and led by nine at the break (38-29).
 
The Diplomats shot 50 percent in the second half (11-22) and put the game away in the first four minutes of the second half, using a 10-0 run out of the locker room to pull in front by 19, 48-29, with 15:47 to go when Matthew Tate hit the second of two threes on the run; Hunter Eggers hit an earlier three and Cedric Moune converted a pair of layups in between.
 
In all, the Diplomats put together a 17-2 run over a span of 6:36 at the end of the first and beginning of the second half. The 19-point margin was the largest of the game and the Diplomats led by double figures the rest of the contest.
 
Moune finished with a double-double of 14 points (5-9 FG) and 13 rebounds (11 defensive) for F&M in a full 40 minutes while Brandon Federici poured in a team-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting (3-6 3FG; 4-6 FT) with four assists. Jared Wright came off the bench to hit 12-of-14 from the line and was the third Diplomat in double figures with 16 points. Matthew Tate (eight points, four assists) and Jordan Phelps (eight points) also contributed.
 
NJCU was without 1,000-point scorer and senior small forward Khalid Muhammad (Orange, NJ/Orange), who sat out with an injury. Freshman forward Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) scored eight points for the second straight outing. Freshman guard Tyler Caldwell (Jersey City, NJ/Henry Snyder) had four assists in his first start.
 
#KnightNotes:

• Franklin & Marshall leads the all-time series, 4-0.
• Chinwe Wosu's previous career high for rebounds was six against Valley Forge Christian (2/10/2014). He played a career-high 33 minutes after playing a then career-best 25 minutes in the season opener at Brooklyn. He also had career highs in free throws made and attempted (5-of-9).
• Jalen Harris's 26 points were the most for NJCU since Neville Joseph scored 29 vs. Ramapo on February 4, 2015.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU faces Messiah (2-1) in the tournament consolation game on Saturday, November 21 at 1 p.m. It will be the second meeting between the schools. NJCU won the only other meeting on November 19, 2011, 72-66, in the championship game of Messiah's Homewood Suites by Hilton Tournament. NJCU had five players score in double figures in that win.