EWING, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's basketball team competed in a tightly contested New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup against The College of New Jersey this afternoon, Dec. 2. In a game that saw 10 lead changes, the Gothic Knights were in front 65-61 with just over six minutes left to play. However, it was the Lions that put together a 15-5 run to finish the game and take their fifth win in a row, 76-70.

Despite starting the game slow, NJCU (2-5, 1-2 NJAC) kept pace with a red-hot TCNJ (7-1, 3-0 NJAC) team. Both squads found themselves in foul trouble midway through the first half of action. With 7:14 left in the half and the score tied 22-22, the Lions would take the next lead, and would not forgo it until the second. The Gothic Knights went 14-for-19 from the free throw line in the first half, which would keep the deficit manageable going into the break down 38-32.

NJCU began the second half with a 11-4 run to take a 43-42 lead with 16:38 left to go. The teams went back and forth for the next few minutes, however, TCNJ would reclaim a 49-48 lead. The Green and Gold responded with a 13-6 run to take the largest lead of the afternoon, 61-54, highlighted by graduate student co-captain forward Daniel Rodriguez (Newark, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and senior guard Will Brown III (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) each hitting from beyond the arc. The Lions, looking to keep their win streak alive, erupted for a 12-4 run to take the lead for the final time, 66-65, with 4:14 on the clock. 

The Green and Gold would be held to five more points through the final minutes, and would fall to a TCNJ squad that remains atop of the NJAC standings heading into the first week of December.

Highlights:
- Junior forward Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood) finished with two blocks today, and has recorded a block in all seven appearances this season.
- Junior guard Hakeem Wilson (Newark, N.J./North Star Academy) was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, and is shooting 83.0 percent at the stripe this season.
- Six Gothic Knights ended the day with one steal. The Green and Gold have recorded at least six steals in all seven games.
- For the second time this season, NJCU finishes with at least four players in double figures: Senior forward Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) (14), sophomore guard Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) (12), Brown III (12) and Rodriguez (10). It's the fifth game in a row that three or more players hit double digits.

Up Next:
NJCU hits the road on Wednesday, Dec. 6, to continue NJAC play against Ramapo College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.