WAYNE, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's basketball team, despite a solid effort from junior Derryen Whyte (Irvington, N.J./Union) and a career-day for sophomore Jayvin Irby (South Orange, N.J./The Patrick School), faltered on the road in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) competition on Wednesday night, Dec. 1. The Gothic Knights outscored William Paterson University by three points in the second half, but unfortunately fell to the Pioneers by nine, 80-71.

NJCU (3-5, 0-2 NJAC) had a tough time against William Paterson (4-1, 2-0 NJAC), eventually falling behind by as many as 21 points at the 15:06 mark in the second half. However, thanks in part to 11 second-half points apiece from both Whyte and senior Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus), the Gothic Knights climbed all the way back to within five, capped off by a three from Whyte at 2:17 to make it 70-65. Unfortunately, Jersey City would get no closer for the remainder of the contest in the loss.

The Gothic Knights did have four players score in double-figures on the night, as well as nine players play double-digit minutes against the Pioneers. Whyte led NJCU with a season-best and game-high-tying 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5 percent), including 4-of-8 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc. He was also a perfect 5-fo-5 from the foul line, adding five boards and an assist in his third consecutive start.

Irby, who came off the bench to play a career-high 19 minutes, shot 50.0 percent from the floor (5-of-10) and was also 4-of-8 from long range to finish with 14 points and a pair of rebounds before fouling out with just 30 seconds to go. Banks played 22 minutes in the start and came just one rebound shy of his fifth-career double-double after pulling down a game-high-tying nine boards to go with 11 points, a block, a steal and an assist. Senior Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic) rounded out the double-figure scoring for NJCU, chipping in 10 points to go with two steals, one rebounds and a team-best four assists.

Up Next:
Looking to snap a four-game skid, the Gothic Knights get back on the court in the friendly confines of the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) this Saturday, Dec. 4, in the second half of a women's-men's NJAC doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden. NJCU has won 11 straight against the Scarlet Raptors, including, most recently, last year's dominant 85-48 NJAC Quarterfinal romp over RU-C on Coach Charlie Brown Court last season. Tip-off between Jersey City and Rutgers-Camden is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday after the completion of the women's game. Be sure to come out and support the Gothic Knights at the JMAC, or watch them live on GothicVision.