NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The #24-ranked New Jersey City University men's basketball team faced its toughest opponent in recent memory on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 27, in the opening game of the Christopher Newport University/Holiday Inn Invitational. The Gothic Knights went head to head with the #1 squad in all of NCAA Division III, unbeaten Randolph-Macon College. NJCU fell behind in the first half, but posted a strong performance late in the second. Unfortunately, Jersey City fell to the Yellow Jackets 78-58.
The Green and Gold (3-3) drop to even at this early point of the season, while RMC (6-0) remains perfect. NJCU had a tough day from the field against Randolph-Macon, finishing 21-of-64 shooting (32.8 percent), while senior tri-captain
Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus) was the squad's leading scorer with nine points. Junior
Derryen Whyte (Irvington, N.J./Union) earned his first start of the season on Saturday, putting in 20 minutes on the court and chipping in seven points, five boards, three steals and an assist. Four Yellow Jackets scored in double figures, including one double-double, while a total of six scored at least nine points in the overall team effort.
Trailing by 13 after 20 minutes of play, the Gothic Knights regrouped and closed the gap in the second half, although it came much later in the contest. With just over three minutes to play, NJCU trailed by a game-high 29 points to Randolph-Macon, but closed out the night with an 11-2 run, thanks in part to four points from Whyte and another four from junior
Owen Roberts III (Teaneck, N.J./Dwight Morrow).
Highlights:
- Senior tri-captain
Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic) ended the day with five points, three rebounds and a helper.
- Sophomore
Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood) came off the bench for 21 minutes and finished with eight points on 50.0 percent shooting (4-of-8), adding five boards, three blocks and a steal.
- Rookies
Corey Manning-Floyd (Jersey City, N.J./Snyder) and
Zaire Jefferson (Newark, N.J./Payne Tech) each pitched in six points. Manning-Floyd had a rebound and a steal, while Jefferson had two assists and a steal and shot 3-of-6 (50.0 percent).
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights get a shot at redemption tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 28, when they take on the first team to deal them a loss this season back in the season-opener. NJCU and Alvernia University play in the first game of a CNU triple-header at 12:00 p.m. as Jersey City looks to get back above .500 with a victory against the Golden Wolves.
