CAMDEN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior guard Andrew Tomlin (Newark, NJ/Central) netted a career-high 17 points off the bench and the Gothic Knights committed just eight turnovers as the New Jersey City University men's basketball team wrapped up its best record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference since the 1991-92 season with a 76-53 victory over hapless Rutgers University-Camden on February 17.
 
NJCU, the 2015-16 NJAC regular season champions, finished the regular season at 18-7 and 15-3 in the conference—its best record in an 18-game league schedule since going 17-1 in 1991-92 en route to the NCAA Division III Final Four. NJCU won its fifth consecutive game and was victorious for the ninth time in the last 10 games. Rutgers-Camden ended the season 3-22 (1-17 NJAC).
 
The Gothic Knights, anointed the new No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region earlier in the day, led 44-31 at halftime after committing just three turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
 
NJCU, the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament, now awaits the winner between No. 4 seeded Ramapo College (16-9, 12-6 NJAC) and No. 5 seeded The College of New Jersey (14-11, 9-9 NJAC). Those schools—two of the only three conference teams to defeat NJCU in the regular season—square off in the NJAC Quarterfinals on February 20. NJCU has a bye into the NJAC Semifinals which will be held in Jersey City on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
 
With the 17th win this season, ninth-year head coach Marc Brown won for the 133rd time—tying former coach and athletic director Larry Schiner for second place in school history. Brown is one win away from joining his father Charlie as the two winningest coaches in school history—a notable father and son distinction.  
 Over the last five games, NJCU is averaging 80.8 points per game and its defense has allowed just 55.2 points—a staggering 25.6 scoring margin in that time.
 
Tomlin, who made his NJCU debut in the first meeting with Rutgers-Camden on January 13, bettered his previous high of 14 by scoring 17 while shooting 6-of-11 and 3-of-6 from three-point range with seven rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes.
 
Freshman forward Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) scored 11 points in 12 minutes and shot 4-of-7 and junior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) added 10 points, shooting 2-of-5 from three-point range. Four other NJCU players scored at least five points.
 
John Tatem led the Scarlet Raptors with 13 points (5-14 FG; 2-4 3FG) and Jonathan Baker-Jernigan added 12 points and eight rebounds. Abby Bah had nine points and eight rebounds.
 
NJCU outrebounded the Raptors, 59-42, including 22-14 on the offensive glass, and owned a 21-4 margin in second chance points. NJCU's reserves outscored the Raptor reserves, 52-11.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the first half, the Raptors held a 14-9 lead after a three by Baker-Jernigan and he hit another three for a 17-15 advantage. But Tomlin buried a three with 10:15 left in the first half and another at the 7:43 mark to spark an 8-0 run and NJCU controlled the game from there.
• Tomlin's two triples would ultimately spark a decisive 22-4 run to end the half. Seven different players scored during the streak. A three by Harris elevated the margin to double figures with 3:25 to go (31-21) before he capped the half with a pair of foul shots to make the lead 16 at halftime.
• NJCU led by double figures the entire second half and pushed the lead to 20 (46-26, 13:58) on a layup by Harris. NJCU would lead by as many as 26 when Tomlin buried a three with 4:03 left and scored off his own missed layup to make it a 67-41 advantage with 3:23 to play.

#KnightNotes:

• 64th meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 59-5, and has won 21 of the last 22 meetings and 49 of the last 51.
• Ninth-year head coach Marc Brown has 133 wins (133-105) and equals former coach and athletic director Larry Schiner (133 wins) for second place all-time. His father, Charlie Brown, is the all-time wins leader (483).
• Andrew Tomlin scored in double figures for the third time since joining the team on January 13 and the second time in three games. His previous high was 14 points against Kean on February 1.
• Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 21st time in 24 games as a Gothic Knight and his 12th consecutive game.
• Yuri Brutus scored in double figures for the 11th time in 25 games as a rookie.
• The 53 points are the third lowest for an opponent this year.
• Khalid Muhammad now has 1,213 career points and is 17th in school history. Next up in 16th place in Hall-of-Famer John Celentano who scored 1,230 points from 1971-74.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU will host a conference tournament game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court) for the first time since the 2010-11 NJAC championship season in the NJAC semifinals on February 24 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children, seniors and students.