JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University led by as many as 15 points in the second half before The College of New Jersey rallied, creating a dramatic final six minutes that saw four ties and a frenzied pace. With NJCU leading by one with under a minute remaining, TCNJ got the go-ahead basket with 53 seconds left and a pair of defensive stops, including a three-point try at the buzzer as the Lions upset the first place and previously conference-unbeaten Gothic Knight men's basketball team, 76-74, on January 9 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU (8-5, 6-1 NJAC) lost for the third time in four games since opening the year at 7-2 while the Lions (8-5, 4-3 NJAC), who also have a road win over Stockton this year, pulled off another conference upset. The teams combined for 17 made three-pointers in the game, and long-distance shooting proved key in the final minutes.

The loss spoiled one of the finest free-throw shooting performances in program history. NJCU shot 22-of-25 from the line and at 88.0 percent, it is a school record for a game with at least 25 free throws attempted. TCNJ shot 74.1 percent (20-27).
 
NJCU fell at home for the first time this year and dropped a decision when leading with five minutes left for the first time in eight games this year (7-1). NJCU held a 65-62 decision after a made jumper by freshman small forward James Frazier (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), the reigning NJAC and ECAC Metro Rookie of the Week, with 4:44 to play.
 

TCNJ was led by a career-high 28 points by sophomore guard Eric Murdock, Jr. (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater). He netted one more than his previous best of 27, shooting 9-of-17 overall, 3-of-5 from three-point range and 7-of-10 at the line while adding eight rebounds and five assists in a full 40 minutes despite committing eight turnovers. Murdock, who entered the game with just eight missed foul shots all year (80-88) and as the NJAC leader at 90.9 percent, missed three in the game, keeping him from a 30-point day. He netted 14 in each period.
 
Each team had three players score in double figures. For NJCU, junior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) was a perfect 7-of-7 from the line and shot 4-of-7 from the field (2-3 3FG) for 17 points with four assists. Frazier tallied 14 points, including 7-of-8 from the line while reaching double figures in his fourth consecutive game to open his collegiate career.
 
Also for NJCU, freshman small forward James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden) had his fourth career double digit scoring effort, chipping in 13 in 23 reserve minutes. He shot 4-of-8 overall, including 3-of-6 from three-point distance, adding four steals. Senior power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter), the league leader in rebounding and field goal percentage, collected nine points (4-8 FG) and eight rebounds.

Also for the Lions, junior guard Nick Alaimo (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) finished with 17 points (4-7 FG) and shot 8-of-9 from the line. Freshman forward Jordan Glover (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) scored 14 (5-13 FG) with nine rebounds and three blocks.

Key Moments:

• Each team shot 11-of-30 in a first half that saw NJCU own a 41-35 margin at the intermission.
• NJCU overcame an early 10-2 deficit in the first 3:34. The Lions maintained a 13-4 lead (14:08) on a Murdock, Jr.  layup and were ahead 15-7 (+8) and held a 17-9 margin (10:16) on a Glover tip-in before NJCU stormed back with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 19-19 at the 8:32 margin on two Harris foul shots. Julius had five during the spark including a three-pointer.
• After the Lions moved back in front, 22-19, the Knights scored the next seven points and led by as many as six in the period, leading by that differential at the half.
• Still up six (43-37) early in the second half, NJCU ran off the next nine points and seized a 52-37 margin with 16:56 to play. Senior small forward Khalid Muhammad (Orange, NJ/Orange) scored all seven of his points during the run. The lead was 59-45 with 12:18 left.
• The Lions reeled off a 17-2 run over the next 7:36, and roared all the way back to claim a 62-61 lead with 5:42 left when Alaimo hit two foul shots. Alaimo was responsible for nine of the 17 and Murdock, Jr. scored eight.
• The teams traded a pair of ties before Frazier hit two from the line with 5:30 left to give NJCU back a 63-62 lead then hit a jumper at 4:44 for a 65-62 score. Alaimo responded with a three 11 seconds later to tie it at 65-65. The Lions scored three more from the line for a 68-65 lead.
• Junior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, NJ/East Side) scored on consecutive trips down the court, including a fast break, to put NJCU back in front, 69-68, with 2:44 to go before Murdock, Jr. sank a three with 2:28 left for a 71-69 margin. Harris answered with a triple from the right corner and NJCU was ahead again, 72-71, with 2:04 to play.
• After a missed three by Glover, the Lions got the rebound and Glover hit a second chance jumper to put the Lions back in front again, 73-72, with 1:27 remaining.
• Freshman center Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) hit a pair of clutch foul shots with 1:12 left for a 74-73 NJCU lead before Glover grabbed the rebound of a missed three by Alaimo and scored inside for the 10th and final lead change of the game with 53 seconds left. On the next trip down the floor, Muhammad was called for an offensive foul.
• NJCU was forced to foul Murdock, Jr. with 15.4 seconds left. He hit the first but missed the second, Wosu grabbed the rebound and NJCU called timeout with 9.9 to play but couldn't find a shot inside and Julius' three from the left arc as time expired was contested.

 
#KnightNotes:

• 136th meeting during the NJAC era (since 1955-56). NJCU leads the all-time series, 73-43.
• The only known example of a higher free throw percentage in a game with at least 10 attempts was a record 89.5 percent rate (17-19) for NJCU vs. Berkeley (NJ) on February 7, 2011.
• With seven points, Khalid Muhammad now has 1,102 career points and is 21st in school history. Next up on the 1,000-point list: Omar Cooper in 20th place with 1,150 points in three seasons (1994-96, 99-00).

• Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 10th time in 13 games as a Gothic Knight.
• After going through one-third of the NJAC schedule unbeaten, NJCU still maintains a one-game lead over Ramapo and Rutgers-Newark at 5-2. NJCU owns wins over both schools.

 
What's Next?:
The Gothic Knights are home again on Wednesday, January 13 at 8 p.m. when they host Rutgers-Camden (2-10, 1-6 NJAC, Lost 4). It will be the 63rd meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 57-5, and has won 19 of the last 20 meetings and 47 of the last 49. However, the Scarlet Raptors won the last meeting on February 18, 2005 in Jersey City, NJ, 80-69. It was the first win in Jersey City for Rutgers-Camden in 27 years (January 20, 1988; 63-62) and the first win in the series in any venue since February 2002. Follow live stats (http://sidearmstats.com/njcu/mbball/) or live video (https://www.youtube.com/user/NJCUGothicKnights/live).