New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to take control of the action and the first-place Gothic Knights cruised to a 78-65 New Jersey Athletic Conference men's basketball victory over Rutgers-Camden on January 13 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU (9-5, 7-1 NJAC) maintained a one-game lead over second-place Rutgers-Newark (6-2) with a road win over the Scarlet Raiders in hand and is two games in front of Ramapo, Stockton and TCNJ (5-3). Rutgers-Camden (2-11, 1-7 NJAC) dropped its fifth straight.
 
NJCU defeated the Scarlet Raptors for the 20th time in the last 21 meetings and for the 48th time in the last 50 matchups.
 
NJCU forced the Raptors into 27 turnovers which led to a 25-10 advantage in points off giveaways. NJCU, which shot 8-of-19 from three-point range (.421) only committed 13 turnovers.
 
Junior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) scored a team-high 19 points, shooting 6-of-13 overall and 3-of-5 from three-point distance and picked off six steals.
 
Senior power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter), the NJAC's leader in rebounding and field goal percentage, grabbed 10 rebounds (six offensive) and scored nine points (3-5 FG). Freshman center Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) came off the bench to score 10 points (5-11 FG) in 18 minutes. Freshman small forward James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden) delivered six assists in 19 reserve minutes.
 
Also for the Knights, senior small forward Khalid Muhammad (Orange, NJ/Orange) chipped in nine points while junior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, NJ/East Side) tallied eight points (3-6 FG) and four assists.

In defeat, Camden's Isaac Destin poured in a game-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting (5-6 FT), adding six rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes. Shaun Thomas had 10 points (3-3 FG, 4-5 FT).

Key Moments:

• NJCU trailed early as RUC scored the first six points and held a 9-5 edge before the hosts tied it at 9-9 (14:23).
• Knotted at 11-11, NJCU scored the next 10 points—foul shots by Muhammad and Wosu, a steal by Harris that led to a fast break by Brutus, and a three-point play by Harris off his own steal and fast break finish with 11:07 to play.
• Leading 21-11, NJCU maintained a sizable advantage the rest of the half. Its largest margin was 13 three times in the period, including a 44-31 differential at the break.
• The Knights gradually increased its margin in the second half, working the lead to 18, 59-41, when Muhammad drilled a three with 12:35 left. Its largest lead came with 7:02 to go, 70-51 (+19) before prevailing by the halftime margin of 13.

 
#KnightNotes:

• 63rd meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 58-5, and has won 20 of the last 22 meetings and 48 of the last 50.
• Freshman small forward James Frazier (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), the two-time reigning NJAC and ECAC Metro Rookie of the Week, did not reach double figures for the first time in five games as a collegian (6 points, 3-11 FG).

• Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 11th time in 14 games as a Gothic Knight.
• Yuri Brutus scored in double figures for the sixth time as a rookie.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU heads to Montclair, NJ on Saturday, January 16 at 1 p.m. to conclude the first half of its 18-game NJAC schedule when it meets Montclair State University. It will be the 165th meeting in a series Montclair leads, 91-73.