JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Jaheim Lewis (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) led the Gothic Knights with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in the narrow 78-77 win over Delaware Valley on Saturday afternoon at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center.
NJCU (3-0) remains undefeated on the season, starting 3-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 season when they opened 9-0. Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) added 15 points while Isaiah Johnson-Williams (Jersey City, N.J./Don Bosco) also tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Delaware Valley (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season and was led by Mike Herrin who scored 14 points. On the glass, it was Zoelin Pair leading the charge with 9 rebounds.
Lewis put the Gothic Knights on the board early with a pair of baskets, giving NJCU a 4-2 lead just two minutes into the game. Following a three-minute scoreless stretch, Johnson-Williams ended the dry spell with a basket from a Lewis assist, keeping NJCU ahead. Delaware Valley's Antonio Redding answered back at the 12:37 mark with a three-pointer to tie the game at 10. With neither team able to secure a comfortable lead in the foul-heavy first half, Delaware Valley found an offensive spark in the final minutes, using a 15-7 run to enter halftime with a 40-33 advantage.
Despite falling behind by 10 in the second half, NJCU chipped away steadily. Lewis leveled the game at 53 with two key free throws, and a layup by Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) at the 9:53 mark gave NJCU a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Delaware Valley fought back, tying the game at 66, but Gilbert once again delivered at the charity stripe to restore the Gothic Knights' edge. With just under a minute remaining, Redding's corner three brought Delaware Valley within one, yet NJCU's defense held strong, sealing the game as both teams missed late opportunities.
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