MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's basketball team's season came to a close on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 18, as the Gothic Knights — seeded #6 — fell to #3-seed Montclair State University in the Quarterfinal Round of the 2022-23 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament. Junior forward Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) had a career-high 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, but it was unfortunately not enough for the Gothic Knights as they fell to the Red Hawks, 89-69.

Much like the two squads' previous meeting in Montclair, NJCU (12-14) kept it tight throughout the first half and late a ways into the second. Jersey City trailed the Red Hawks (22-4) by just three with only seconds remaining in the first and it looked as through that's how the half would end. However, MSU managed to drain a buzzer-beating three to make it a six-point deficit at the break. The Gothic Knights had the momentum at the midway point of the half as, trailing by six at 14-8, they went on a 10-0 run to take an 18-14 lead. Gilbert and freshman forward Brandon Moore each scored four points during this stretch. The two teams then traded baskets before Montclair State took its lead into the half.

The Red Hawks started off fast in the second half and built up an 11-point, 47-36 lead, but the Gothic Knights would not be deterred. Thanks to a subsequent 10-4 run, NJCU trimmed the gap to just five points at 51-46, including four points apiece from Gilbert and fellow junior big man Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood). A three to stretch it back out to eight for MSU at 13:39 was answered exactly two scoreless minutes later as senior co-captain forward Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) drilled a long shot of his own to make it 54-49 at 11:39. Eventually, another Gilbert bucket kept the Red Hawks' lead at five at 56-51 with 9:40 remaining in the game, forcing a MSU timeout.

However, from that point on — thanks in part to a 23-2 run out of that timeout — the hometown Red Hawks took control of the game en route to the quarterfinal victory, which advances them to the NJAC Semifinal round against #2 seed Stockton University in Galloway, N.J., at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night, Feb. 21.

Highlights:
- Darley, in his final collegiate game, played 31 minutes and shot 50 percent from the floor (4-for-8) to finish with nine points, three boards, three assists and a steal.
- Also in his final game, senior co-captain guard Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic) chipped in a game-best seven rebounds to go with four points and a steal over a game-high-tying 32 minutes on the floor.
- Junior guard Will Brown III (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) added eight points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist.
- Savoy and freshman guard Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) each ended the day with eight points.
- NJCU did out-rebound Montclair State, 40-31, and held a strong 20-8 advantage on the offensive glass.