JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University men's basketball hosted Stockton University for the final regular-season New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup of the year on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center (JMAC). Before tonight's clash, the team celebrated the Class of 2022 graduating seniors – captains Marvellous Akingbala (Union, N.J./Union) and Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus). Jersey City put up a fight, but ultimately trailed at the half and by the final buzzer. The Ospreys finished with an 89-70 win tonight.
 

NJCU (11-14, 8-10 NJAC) senior Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) made the first layup of the game, but the Ospreys (21-4, 15-3 NJAC) gained quick momentum and took the lead. Almost five minutes later, senior tri-captain Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic) put in a jumper, which was followed by an additional jumper from freshman Ben Todd (Woodland Hills, Calif./El Camino Real Charter) and a three-point basket by Banks. Soon after, freshman Corey Manning-Floyd (Jersey City, N.J./Snyder) put his first points in from a free throw following an Ospreys foul. Keeping the Gothic Knight pressure, junior Derryen Whyte (Irvington, N.J./Union) hit a huge three-point basket to tie the game 13-13. Stockton jumped to a lead, but sophomore Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood) and freshman Zaire Jefferson (Newark, N.J./Payne Tech) put in consecutive jumpers to fight back.

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, sophomore Jayvin Irby (South Orange, N.J./The Patrick School) started off with a good layup – however, the Ospreys still led 25-22. Akingbala then hit a good three pointer, closing the gap once again. Banks next went on a hot streak streak, draining two jumpers, a three-point basket and two free throws until the final three minutes. Savoy then followed with a nice slam in transition, making the score 41-36 with roughly two minutes to go – the Gothic Knights still trailed. Banks finished up the half with a layup, however, the Ospreys made two final baskets before the buzzer, and led 49-40.

Battle put in the first jumper of the second half, later following with another one. Freshman Leon Lawson (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) scored his first points of the game with a layup in the paint. The crowd's chanting grew as Banks sank another three-point basket, his third of the night. Battle added two made free throws before Stockton gained back some speed. With only 10 minutes left in the half, Banks, Darley, Battle, freshman Felix Romero (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy Tech) and Whyte all added points. Whyte and Todd put in the two final baskets for NJCU, but the Ospreys finalized the game 89-70.

Highlights:
- Banks led with a game-high 23 points; Whyte followed with 10.
- Todd found the most rebounds for NJCU, leading with six; Akingbala followed with four and Banks, Savoy and Battle each found three.
- Savoy held the game-high of four assists, followed by Whyte with three and Banks with two.
- Todd made two blocks today while Savoy tallied one.

Up Next: 
Tonight's game concludes the Gothic Knights regular-season play. Jersey City (in the seventh seed) will host Rutgers-Camden (10th seed) for the first round of the NJAC Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 3:00 p.m. at the JMAC. Catch all the action live on GothicVision.