GALLOWAY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's basketball team fell to #23 Stockton 87-82 on Wednesday, Dec. 11, collecting their first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) loss of the season.
The Gothic Knights (7-3, 3-1 NJAC) shot 49.2% from the field (31-63), 41.2% from three-point range (7-17), and 59.1% from the free-throw line (13-22). Meanwhile, Stockton (7-1, 4-0 NJAC) shot 38.2% from the field (26-68), 25.9% from three (7-27), and 73.7% from the free-throw line (28-38). Despite NJCU's advantage in shooting numbers, Stockton dominated in second-chance points (20-7) and fast break points (18-13). The Gothic Knights outshined the Ospreys in points of turnovers (18-13) and bench points (19-12). The two teams tied in points in the paint, each scoring 36.
Senior guard
Hakeem Wilson (Newark, N.J./North Star Academy) led NJCU with a season-high 20 points on 8-13 shooting, also contributing four assists, three rebounds, and a steal. Senior guard
Jaheim Lewis (Hillside, N.J./Hillside), who played a team-high 31 minutes, added 19 points on 53.8% shooting, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Senior guard
Isaiah Johnson-Williams (Jersey City, N.J./Don Bosco) also contributed with double figures with 13 points, three rebounds, and two steals. Juniors
Arterio Williams (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) and
Raymond Ezike (Newark, N.J./Westside) combined for 12 rebounds, 11 points, and three blocks in a strong defensive showing for the Gothic Knights.
The Ospreys had two players score over 20 points. Martin Anguelov led Stockton with 29 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists. EJ Matthews-Spratley was also crucial, adding 26 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Tayvon Gaither contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals.
Stockton came out of the gate strong, quickly establishing a 10-2 lead. However, NJCU responded with a spark from
Jaheim Lewis (Hillside, N.J./Hillside), who scored a layup at the 16:40 mark to trigger an 11-2 run. This run gave NJCU a 13-12 lead with 13:55 remaining in the first half. The teams then traded buckets over the next several minutes, with Stockton's Matthews-Spratley hitting three three-pointers during a 9-3 run, putting the Ospreys ahead 50-42 at halftime. This eight-point margin was the largest lead of the first half.
Coming out of the locker room, NJCU quickly cut into Stockton's lead, scoring three consecutive baskets to reduce the deficit to just two points (50-48). However, Stockton responded with a dominant 23-9 run, extending their lead to 73-57, their largest of the game. The Ospreys maintained a double-digit lead for much of the second half, appearing to have control of the game.
As the clock wound down, NJCU mounted a late charge. With 2:39 remaining, Johnson-Williams stole the ball and found Lewis, who hit a critical three-pointer to cut Stockton's lead to 80-73. A jumper by Williams and a layup by Wilson made it a two-possession game, with NJCU trailing 83-77 with 51 seconds left. Wilson continued to chip away at the Ospreys' lead, scoring five more points in the final 20 seconds to bring the game to within two points at 84-82. However, Stockton sealed the win by converting three out of four free throws in the final moments, securing an 87-82 victory.
NJCU will look to bounce back when they return to action on Saturday, Dec. 14, hosting Kean University at 3:00 p.m. for another NJAC matchup.
For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
