Game Program (PDF)
 

For Starters                 
In a rematch of a November 24 conference game won by NJCU on the road, 69-62, the Gothic Knights host Rutgers-Newark in a battle for sole possession of first place in the league. NJCU has lost four of its last six games after opening the year 7-2 and 6-0 in the NJAC. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Raiders have won four straight. NJCU is seeking its first season sweep of RUN since the 2001-02 season, and a huge tiebreaker in the standings.
 
#GothicRewind—NJCU Suffers Upset Loss at Montclair
On Saturday, NJCU and Montclair State were tied for the 11th time in the game with 90 seconds left before MSU used a three-point play, three free throws and two defensive stops in the next 30 seconds and held off a near final moment rally and upset the Knights, 72-71. NJCU, which led by seven with 9:50 remaining after trailing by a deuce at halftime, saw that lead dissipate over the next four minutes in what would become a see-saw finish. Three players scored in double figures for NJCU. Yuri Brutus led NJCU with 15 points in 30 reserve minutes, shooting 6-of-13.
 
Scoring Surge, Defensive Dip
NJCU is scoring like it hasn't seen in years. At 78.0 points per game, the Knights are third in the league in scoring to Ramapo (80.7 per game; Newark is sixth at 74.7). It's the highest single-season average since posting 79.4 per game in the 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons. However, NJCU's defense has dwindled this season. After allowing 63.0 (NJAC, 3rd), 64.0 (2nd), 58.3 (1st, record), 63.0 (1st) and 65.8 (3rd) in each of the last five seasons, the Knights scoring defense has allowed 76.0 points per game thru the first 15 of this campaign.
 
Wosu Owning It; Other Notables
Chinwe Wosu continues to lead the NJAC in rebounding (10.0) per game. No other player has more than 8.0 per game. He leads the conference in offensive rebounding (4.9) per game and ranks No. 3 nationally in the category. Wosu also leads the NJAC in field goal percentage at 60.9 percent. Newark's David Azoroh is second at 56.1 percent. Ata Robinson is No. 2 in free throw percentage (.889, 40-45) while Jalen Harris is seventh in the league in scoring (16.3) and free throw percentage (.819, 68-83).
 
Raider Reads               

• John Snow won a collection of awards this week including NJAC Player of the Week honors after scoring 42 points in a close win over Rowan. It's nine more points than any other player in the league this year and the most in the NJAC since Thomas Baker scored 42 for Rowan vs. Kean on January 17, 2007. Gian Paul Gonzalez scored 51 for Montclair State vs. Lincoln on January 21, 2006.
• Jordan McDaniel is second in the NJAC in scoring (20.6). Tyler Ofray is third in the league in free throw percentage (.836, 46-55).
• Ricky Stephens joined the Raiders club at mid-year and has started all five game since then. He produced his first double-double of the season Saturday against Rowan and has scored in double figures twice in five games since coming on.
• RUN owns the No. 2, 3 and 4 shot blockers in the league with Dave Lunsford (1.3), David Azoroh (1.3) and Jordan McDaniel (1.2).