MADISON, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University used a 13-2 run and timely shooting to rally from an eight-point deficit with under six remaining to win the championship of the Rose City Classic with a 76-72 win over host Drew University on November 19 at Baldwin Gymnasium. It was the first meeting between NJCU and nearby Drew in almost 34 years.
 
NJCU remained unbeaten (3-0) behind sophomore power forward Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown), who was named the Most Valuable Player of the weekend, and junior small forward James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden), who poured in a career-high 24 points to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. The Gothic Knights have now won back-to-back regular season tournaments dating to last season.
 
Drew (1-2) led for most of the game—33:51 of total time—and by as many as 12 early in the second half, while the Knights dealt with serious foul trouble. But NJCU forced the Rangers into 24 turnovers and used its press to outscore Drew 30-19 off giveaways.
 
Julius was 7-of-13 from the field and hit three threes (3-8), while shooting 7-of-8 from the line to produce 24 points in 32 minutes—six more than his previous high.
 
Toney played just five minutes after picking up two early first-half fouls, but he bounced back to tally nine of his 12 points in the second half, including a pair of crucial shots down the stretch, before fouling out in just 15 minutes of action. Toney earned MVP honors after notching 33 points in two games, shooting 11-of-19 (.579).
 
Also for NJCU, freshman point guard Jamal Williams continued playing well off the bench, scoring eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, adding two assists and two steals in 13 minutes. Freshman center Chika Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter)) and junior shooting guard Robert Gordon (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) each added seven points off the bench.
 
For Drew, sophomore guard Riley Collins (Lacey, N.J.) had 18 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3FG) and five steals but committed seven turnovers. Senior Yonathan Napoleon (Los Angeles, Calif.) collected 17 points on 4-of-9 shooting (3-6 3FG, 6-7 FT) and four assists but also coughed up six turnovers. Junior Dan Roibal (Middletown, N.J.) scored nine points and junior forward Nate Aldrich (Franklinville, N.J.) tallied nine rebounds and six points.
 

NJCU trailed 60-52 with 5:55 left after a pair of foul shots by Collins. Julius answered with a jumper before Toney picked off a piss and hit a transition jump shot to cut the deficit to four (60-56) with 5:10 remaining. Junior point guard Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central)'s steal led to two foul shots and Julius buried a triple with 4:05 left as the Knights claimed a 61-60 lead—its first since it was 10-8 in the early first half.
 
NJCU forced yet another turnover and Toney was fouled after a steal and sank two foul shots. Toney hit another jumper with 3:26 left then stretched the lead to five (68-63) when he buried a three with 2:43 to go. The Knights would ice it from the line, hitting five foul shots down the stretch.
 
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS:
 

• Marc Brown on being 3-0 and the tournament win: "It's a great feeling being 3-0 with a brand new team and a new system. We really haven't played well but have found different ways to win. Today, without having our leading scorer, Sam, play more than 15 minutes, the rest of the group showed the resolve and the kind of team we have."
• Brown on how the team battled back: "We were just gritty and fought. Anytime you force 20 turnovers, you give yourself a chance. We pressed more of the game, gave up some easy baskets, but were able to turn them over and we made big shots when we needed to towards the end of the game. We did a good job of breaking their press. Our team is growing each game; you can see it."

 
NOTABLES:
 

• Series: NJCU leads, 4-0.
• First meeting between NJCU and Drew since March 2, 1984—a 97-94 win—in the semifinals of the ECAC Metro New York/New Jersey tournament at Stockton. NJCU also won two meetings during the 1956-57 season—80-53 and 92-78 victories.
• Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored in double figures for the 22nd time in 32 career games.
• James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden) scored in double figures for the 13th time in his career.
• James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden)' previous career high was 18 at Kean on December 12, 2015.
• NJCU last won a tournament in December, 2016, winning the Crowne Plaza Holiday Tournament at Albright College.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU begins New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, November 21 (8 p.m.) against Rutgers-Newark in Newark, N.J.

 
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