WAYNE, N.J. — After falling behind by as many as 13 points midway through the first half on Wednesday night, Nov. 30, the New Jersey City University men's basketball team stormed all the way back to take a five-point lead at the halfway mark of the second against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival William Paterson University. The Gothic Knights eventually held a three-point lead with just 5:25 to go against the hosting Pioneers, however WPU used a 12-3 run to go up by six with less than two minutes to go and eventually claimed the victory, 85-79.
As mentioned, NJCU (3-3, 0-2 NJAC) fell behind by 13 points at 32-19 with 10:20 remaining in the first half to the Pioneers (4-2, 1-1 NJAC). However, the Gothic Knights used a 14-2 run to make it a one-point, 34-33 game with 4:48 left until the half. Five different players scored during this run, including five points from freshman guard
Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) — he finished the night with seven total points. Eventually, thanks to a three-point bucket from senior forward
Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) with under a minute to go, NJCU trailed again by just one at 41-40 at the half — he finished the night 3-of-5 from long range.
To start the second, the teams traded the lead back and forth before William Paterson went up by four at 54-50 with 13:34 remaining. However, a 9-0 run for NJCU gave the squad its largest lead of the night at 59-54 with 11:45 remaining — seven of those points came from sophomore guard
Zaire Jefferson (Newark, N.J./Payne Tech), who ended the game with a season-best 11 points. At that point, the Pioneers climbed back into the game and the teams once again traded the lead back and forth before a quick 5-0 run — a bucket from junior forward
Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood) and a three from Darley — put the Gothic Knights up by three at 69-66 with 5:25 left.
Unfortunately, William Paterson controlled possession for the remainder of the night, going up by six points on three occasions, which included the final score of 85-79.
Highlights:
- Senior forward
Yvens Monfleury (Newark, N.J./American History) — a transfer from the Pioneers — scored a team-best 13 points in his return to Wayne on an efficient 5-of-7 from the floor, adding a game-high-tying seven boards. However, he did all that damage in just 16 minutes on the floor before fouling out of the game.
- Darley also pulled down seven rebounds to go with three assists, a pair of blocks and a steal. Jefferson was 4-of-8 shooting and chipped in a steal and a rebound.
- Junior forward
Jacob Valeus (Pleasantville, N.J./Pleasantville) and Savoy were the other two players to score in double-figures for NJCU, eaching chipping in 10 points. Valeus had three assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal, while Savoy grabbed six boards and dished out a game-high four assists.
- Junior center
Michael Clement (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) saw 12 minutes in his season debut after missing the majority of last season and the early portion of this season due to injury. The big man — and 2020-21 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year — chipped in six points on 2-of-2 shooting and a pair of free throws to go with six rebounds.
Up Next:
Jersey City returns to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Saturday, Dec. 3, for a scheduled 3:00 p.m. clash with NJAC foe The College of New Jersey. The Gothic Knights have topped the Lions in five of the last seven meetings, including both match-ups last season.
