JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior small forward Neville Joseph (Newark, NJ/West Side) scored 20 of his career-high 29 points in the first half and the New Jersey City University men's basketball team moved into New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament contention for the first time this season, routing rival Ramapo College, 73-54, in NJAC action on February 4 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
 
NJCU (8-11, 6-7 NJAC) knocked down nine three-points in perhaps its most impressive win of the season as the Gothic Knights won their third consecutive game and for the fifth time in six outings. Ramapo, which won the first meeting between the clubs on December 10, fell to 12-9 (6-8 NJAC). NJCU never trailed in the game, outscoring RCNJ 25-12 off turnovers.
 
Despite starting the season just 1-6 in the league, NJCU has stormed back in the second half of the year and now is in sixth place in the NJAC—a half game better than RCNJ in the standings.
 
Joseph's team season high included an electric start in which he scored 13 points in the opening 4:15 to stake NJCU to an early 15-3 lead. He netted 20 points in the first half on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range before finishing with a double-double of 29 points and 10 rebounds (seven defensive) in 34 minutes. He committed just one foul in the game, shooting 11-of-17 and 4-of-6 from three-point range while finishing with his fourth double-double of the season.
 
He is the first Gothic Knight to score 20 points in one half since junior shooting guard Khalid Muhammad (Orange, NJ/Orange) had 21 in the second half of NJCU's 2014 NJAC Tournament loss at Kean.
 
Meanwhile, Joseph became the first Gothic Knight to score 20 in the opening half of a game since former all-time great Dana John netted 26 in the first half (9-13 FG, 8-11 3FG) at Rowan on January 27, 2007.
 
Senior point guard Jourdan Roberson (Brooklyn, NY/University (Newark)) hit three triples, finishing with 13 points (3-10 FG, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior shooting guard Jamall McDaniel (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) dished four assists with two blocks and two steals. 
 RCNJ junior forward Frank Nock (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) led the guests with 15 points, primarily from the line where he was 9-of-12 (3-12 FG). Sophomore forward Jermaine Peart (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) added 13 points, making all five field goals attempted. Freshman forward Nick Stanek (Royersfield, PA/Spring-Ford) tallied 10 rebounds and seven points (3-7 FG).
 
Behind Joseph, NJCU jumped out to a 13-2 lead as he knocked down three three-pointers without missing and his layup made it 15-3. RCNJ made it a game in the first half, scoring 10 straight points to draw within 15-13 with 11:51 left as Nock scored six straight points for the Roadrunners. Joseph's 15th points made it 21-16 before Ramapo tied it at 21-21 on a three by freshman guard Josh Ford (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee).
 
But NJCU answered with a 9-0 run with junior forward Bilal Abdul-Raheem (Piscataway, NJ/Fork Union (VA)) hitting a three and a basket by McDaniel and Joseph's 17th points capping it. With 2:13 to play, Roberson buried a triple for a 36-26 advantage and when a pair of layups by Peart narrowed the deficit to four, Joseph canned a three in the final seconds of the half, giving him 20 and the Knights a 39-32 margin at the break.
 
NJCU quickly put the game away in the second half. Leading 42-34 with 17:26 to play, NJCU uncorked a 13-3 run over the next 7:14 and seized a decisive 18-point lead when freshman guard Joseph Kelley (Newark, NJ/University) sank a three with 10:28 to play. Joseph had back-to-back baskets in the middle of the run. NJCU cruised from there, extending its lead to as many as 23 points on two occasions in the final two minutes.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 86th known meeting. NJCU leads all-time series, 64-22.
• Neville Joseph scored in double figures for the 14th time in 17 games in his only season at NJCU.
• Khalid Muhammad now has 960 career points.
• Jourdan Roberson reached double figures in scoring for the 17th time in two seasons at NJCU and fifth time in 2014-15.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
On Saturday, February 7, NJCU will host The College of New Jersey (12-9, 8-6 NJAC, 4th place) in a late start at 7 p.m. at the JMAC. Prior to the game will be the women's and men's alumni games at 12 and 2 p.m. TCNJ won the first meeting on January 10, 61-59, coming from 19-0 down to stun NJCU at the buzzer. After giving up the big first half lead, NJCU still led 59-54 with 59 seconds remaining, coughing the ball up twice in the final minute before the Lions hit the winning shot with 3.9 seconds to play. It will be the 134rd meeting during the NJAC conference era; NJCU leads the series since 1955-56, 71-42, and has won five of the last seven meetings.