MAHWAH, N.J. – In a gritty, down-to-the-wire battle to open New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's basketball team edged Ramapo College, 66–64, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the Bill Bradley Athletic Center. The victory pushes the Gothic Knights to 3–2 overall and a strong 1–0 start in conference action, while the Roadrunners fall to 1–5 (0–1 NJAC).

NJCU shot 39.7% from the field (23–58) and 73.9% from the free-throw line (17–23), making just three of 13 attempts from beyond the arc. Ramapo posted similar numbers, shooting 41.1% overall (23–56), 21.4% from deep (3–14), and 68.2% at the line (15–22).

Junior Brince Shelton (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse) made a standout NJCU debut, delivering a team-high 18 points on an efficient 6-for-10 shooting performance. Coming off the bench, he also contributed three rebounds and three steals. Senior Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) added 13 points and seven rebounds, while junior Donovan Crawford (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) gave NJCU 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Ramapo countered with a strong performance of its own. Nahum Lewis paced all Roadrunners with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a block. Elijah Barlow added 15 points and contributed on both ends with rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block. Tyrell Murchison and Enoch Hutchinson each scored 10 points and collected three steals, with Murchison adding eight rebounds, three assists, and a block. Orion Mickens anchored Ramapo's interior defense with four defensive rebounds and three blocks.

Statistically, the Gothic Knights found their edge in several key categories, including second-chance points (11–8), bench production (27–9), and fast-break scoring (14–11). Ramapo, however, capitalized on NJCU turnovers, turning them into 22 points compared to NJCU's 17. The Roadrunners also controlled the paint with a 38–30 advantage in inside scoring.

Ramapo set the tone early in the first half, using a three-pointer from Hutchinson with 6:28 remaining to go up 27–21. Lewis followed with a strong finish inside, giving the Roadrunners their largest lead of the period at 29–21. NJCU responded with a series of composed plays at the free-throw line—courtesy of Arterio Williams (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) and Jayden Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Immaculate Conception)—along with a much-needed three-pointer from Shelton to pull within 32–28 at the 3:47 mark. Ramapo briefly rebuilt its lead to eight before the Gothic Knights closed the half on a positive note. Rogers-Robinson knocked down a jumper just before the buzzer, trimming the margin to 37–33 heading into the break. Rogers-Robinson and Jayden Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Immaculate Conception) led NJCU at halftime with seven and six points, respectively.

The Gothic Knights opened the second half with renewed energy, quickly putting together a 6–0 run to pull within a possession. Ramapo answered with its own 6–0 spurt, maintaining a slim lead, but NJCU continued to chip away. Trailing 47–42, Shelton delivered a personal 5–0 run that tied the game and shifted momentum squarely toward the Green and Gold. With 8:50 left, Crawford muscled in a basket inside to give NJCU its first lead since the opening minutes, 53–52.

From there, the Gothic Knights built their largest advantage of the night, using a 9–5 surge to go up 63–57. But Ramapo refused to go quietly. Barlow hit a floater with 37 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to four, and on the next possession, Hutchinson drilled a high-pressure three off a feed from Murchison, cutting it to 65–64 with just 25 seconds left. Shelton was sent to the line on the ensuing NJCU possession, extending the lead to 66–64.

Ramapo managed to get off two shots in the final seconds, but NJCU's defense held strong, securing the narrow conference victory.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return home to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Wednesday, Dec. 3, where they will host Rutgers–Newark in another key NJAC matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
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