MONTCLAIR, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Of all the life lessons that come from sports probably none resonates as much as not quitting. For the second time in three years, the New Jersey City University men's basketball has embodied that mantra. On February 14, NJCU led from start to finish and put an exclamation mark on another incredible late-season comeback, qualifying for the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament with an 83-58 road rout of Montclair State University at the Panzer Athletic Center.
 
It was the eighth win in 10 games for the resurgent Gothic Knights who after opening the season just 3-10 overall and 1-6 in the NJAC, improved to 11-12 overall and 9-8 in the NJAC. NJCU also swept the season series from Montclair (8-16, 3-14 NJAC).
 
Coupled with Rutgers-Camden's 80-72 win over Ramapo, the field of six for the NJAC Tournament has been locked in with only seedings to determine on February 18 when the regular season comes to a close.
 
At the top of the standings, No. 19 ranked Richard Stockton and No. 22 William Paterson have locked up the top two seeds and at 13-4 are fighting for the NJAC regular season title. Rutgers-Newark and The College of New Jersey are tied for third at 10-7 while NJCU and Rowan University are fifth at 9-8. If NJCU beats Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday, it will clinch the fifth seed in the tournament and travel to either TCNJ or Rutgers-Newark for a quarterfinal game on February 21. Meanwhile, If TCNJ defeats Kean on February 18, the Lions will be the No. 3 seed.
 In the decisive win over Montclair, senior small forward Neville Joseph (Newark, NJ/West Side), this week's NJAC Player of the Week, again was dominant for the Knights, posting his fifth double-double of the season. He netted 18 points and 11 rebounds with two steals while shooting 6-of-13 from the field with a pair of threes in 25 minutes.
 
Junior shooting guard Khalid Muhammad (Orange, NJ/Orange) came oh so close to becoming the 28th member of NJCU's 1000-point club. He entered the game needing 13 to hit the milestone, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting with seven rebounds in 15 minutes while playing with four fouls. Senior power forward Drew Marley (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) totaled 10 points (5-8 FG) in 20 minutes.

Also for NJCU, senior center Eddie Brown (Newark, NJ/Newark East Side) chipped in nine points (4-6 FG), seven rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes and senior point guard Jourdan Roberson (Brooklyn, NY/University (Newark)) had eight points (2-4 FG, 2-3 3FG) and four assists with senior shooting guard Jamall McDaniel (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) chipping in eight points and three assists.
 
For Montclair, four-time NJAC Rookie of the Week Lavrone Green scored 14 points (5-15 FG, 2-8 3FG). Shaun Russell had 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
 
NJCU led wire-to-wire, opening up a first half lead which it pushed to as many as eight points (24-16) on three pointers by redshirt-junior guard David Cole (Avenel, NJ/Colonia) and senior point guard Justin Harte (Irvington, NJ/Irvington). An offensive rebound and follow by Muhammad made it 31-21 before the Knights held a five-point margin, 35-30, at the break.
 

NJCU shot 60.7 percent in the second half (17-28) and after MSU drew within three on the opening possession, the Knights utilized a 10-2 run to regain a double-digit advantage (11, 45-34) when Roberson hit a three with 16:59 left. The lead swelled to 16 (55-39) with 14:03 left on a Marley rebound and putback that extended the run to 20-7. The Red Hawks somewhat chipping away at the lead, drawing within nine (59-50) with 8:56 to play.
 
But from there NJCU put the game out of reach, scoring 18 of the next 24 points to push the lead to 21 (77-56) with 2:51 to go. In all, the Knights finished the afternoon on a 20-5 run, turning a 63-53 lead into an 83-58 blowout. The final 25-point margin was its largest of the game.
 
QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Marc Brown (eighth season)
On how this team has come together: "The team has come together at a great time. Offensively, we are making the shots we had [looks at] earlier in the year. Neville Joseph has become a consistent scorer for us. He has figured out what I want him to do on the floor and has taken on the responsibility of being our offensive leader. The most important adjustment has been our full-court pressure. We have been relentless for 40 minutes. That is the plan for the rest of the year. The guys are having fun again."
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 164th meeting since 1932-33; Montclair leads the series, 91-73.
• NJCU qualifies for the NJAC Tournament for the third straight season.
• NJCU qualifies for the NJAC Tournament for the 28th time since 1977-78. (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 (play-in game in 2002), 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015).
• The 25-point margin was NJCU's second largest of the season (+30, 100-70 at Kean on January 24).
• NJCU won the first meeting between the clubs in Jersey City on January 17, 67-56. NJCU also led that game from start to finish.
• Khalid Muhammad now has 998 career points and is two points shy of becoming the 28th member of NJCU's 1000-point club. Muhammad reached double figures in scoring for the 56th time in 78 career games and 14th time this season.
• Neville Joseph scored in double figures for the 18th time in 21 games in his only season at NJCU.
• Drew Marley had his 13th career game of 10+ points and fifth this season.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
On Monday, February 16, the Knights play their final non-conference regular season game in a makeup of a January 26 snowout as NJCU heads to Phoenixville, Pa for a non-conference game with the University of Valley Forge. (15-8). Last year in Jersey City the clubs met on February 10, 2014 (after a February 3 snow out) with NJCU winning, 73-57. The Patriots are red hot, having won six straight and 8-of-9 and boast a 7-2 home mark.