NEWARK, N.J. — In desperate need of a victory, the New Jersey City University men's basketball team accomplished just that on Saturday night, Feb. 4, as the Gothic Knights defeated Rutgers-Newark on the road by a score of 74-50. Thanks in part to a career- and game-best 16 points from senior guard Keshon Smith (Queens, N.Y./Martin Van Buren), NJCU surged past the Scarlet Raiders and remain alive in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament conversation as the squad holds a share of the sixth spot in the standings along with Ramapo College.

Jersey City (10-12, 5-10 NJAC) used a dominant first half, during with the Gothic Knights outscored Rutgers-Newark (6-16, 4-11 NJAC) by 20 at 41-21 to maintain a strong lead throughout the night before finish up the 14-point win and splitting the season series with the Scarlet Raiders. Smith, who saw 23 minutes off the bench on Saturday, was joined in double-figures scoring by senior co-captain guard Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic), who chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and a game-high-tying three steals.

Late in the first half, the Green and Gold used a 9-0 run to go up by 15 at 28-13 with 5:31 to go until the break. The Scarlet Raiders cut it back down to 13 a minute later, however NJCU then went on a 10-0 run to take massive 23-point, 39-16 lead with just 1:32 to go until the half.

Early on in the second half, Rutgers-Newark cut into the lead briefly to make a 17-point game at 47-30 with 16:55 remaining. The Green and Gold then responded in a big way with another 10-0 run to take a 27 point lead at 57-30 with 12:56 to go in the game. Then, minutes later, a 9-3 run for the Gothic Knights put them up by a game-high 31 points at 66-35 with just 4:19 remaining before Jersey City closed out the 24-point victory.

Highlights:
- Forwards senior co-captain Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) and rookie Branden Moore (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) each chipped in nine points on the night, while junior big man Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) had eight.
- Junior guard Will Brown III (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) led all players with seven rebounds.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Wednesday night, Feb. 8, for an 8:00 p.m. match-up with undefeated first-place Rowan University.