UNION, N.J. – The New Jersey City University men's basketball team extended its winning streak to five games and remained unbeaten in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play with a 73–65 come-from-behind victory over Kean University on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Harwood Arena.

The win marked NJCU's first over the Cougars since Dec. 8, 2021, and improved the Gothic Knights to 7–2 overall and 5–0 in conference action. NJCU and Montclair State are now the only remaining undefeated teams in NJAC play.

NJCU shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field, including 81.0 percent (17-of-21) from the free-throw line. Kean finished the game shooting 42.6 percent (23-of-54) overall and 93.3 percent (14-of-15) at the charity stripe.

The Gothic Knights held advantages in points off turnovers (11–10), bench points (17–5), points in the paint (44–36), and fast-break points (15–11), while Kean narrowly led in second-chance points (14–12).

Senior Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) and junior Donovan Crawford (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) paced the Green and Gold. Rogers-Robinson scored a game-high 22 points, shooting 10-for-11 from the free-throw line, while adding eight rebounds and one assist. Crawford recorded a career-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and posted a double-double with 13 rebounds, his first double-double of the season. Sophomore Matt McSorley (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) contributed across the stat sheet with a game- and career-high five assists and three steals with one block, four points, and four rebounds.

Kean was led by Daniel Dextraze, who tallied 21 points, four assists, and three blocks. Kareem Irby and Phil Brown Jr. added 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Brown Jr. and Malachi Jeffers-Viera grabbed seven rebounds apiece.

Kean built early momentum in the first half, using a 14–2 run to take its largest lead at 32–18. Rogers-Robinson answered with six straight points to keep NJCU within striking distance, but the Cougars carried a 36–26 lead into halftime.

The Gothic Knights opened the second half with renewed energy, trimming the deficit before Kean briefly pushed the lead back to 14. NJCU responded with a 13–3 run to pull within five midway through the half. After Kean extended the margin once more, McSorley sparked a decisive 16–0 run with a jumper in the paint.
NJCU took its first lead of the game with 2:28 remaining when junior Jayden Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Immaculate Conception) found Marc Brown Jr. at the top of the key for a three-pointer, giving the Gothic Knights a 66–65 advantage. NJCU closed the game with seven straight points to secure the 73–65 NJAC victory.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 17, traveling to Delaware Valley University for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference matchup.
 
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