DANBURY, CONN. – The New Jersey City University men's basketball team saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday afternoon, falling 73-65 to host Western Connecticut State University in the championship game of the WestConn Holiday Classic at the William O'Neill Center.
NJCU, which entered the contest riding momentum after an unbeaten December, drops to 9-3 overall. Western Connecticut State improved to 6-4 on the season with the victory.
The Gothic Knights struggled to find consistent shooting rhythm against the Wolves' interior defense, shooting 35.1 percent (20-for-57) from the field and 33.3 percent (6-for-18) from three-point range. NJCU did remain effective at the free throw line, converting 19-of-27 attempts (70.4 percent). WCSU countered with a strong shooting performance, knocking down 55.1 percent (27-for-49) of its field-goal attempts, while going 1-for-8 from beyond the arc and 18-for-28 (64.3 percent) at the foul line.
Despite the loss, NJCU controlled several key statistical areas. The Gothic Knights capitalized on turnovers, outscoring WCSU 20-11 in points off turnovers, and held commanding advantages in second-chance points (17-4) and bench scoring (19-10). However, Western Connecticut State made its presence felt inside and in transition, outscoring NJCU 46-22 in the paint and 27-10 on fast breaks.
Senior Bakhi Rogers-Robinson (Orange, N.J./West Caldwell Tech) delivered another all-around performance to lead NJCU, posting 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals, two assists, and one block. The outing marked his 12th consecutive game scoring in double figures and his first blocked shot of the season. Junior Brince Shelton (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse) added 11 points while recording a season-high five steals and two assists, providing a spark on both ends of the floor.
Freshman Mekhi Philogene (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bright School) contributed a season-high 11 points while shooting an efficient 3-for-4 from three-point range. All of his scoring came in the first half. He also chipped in two assists and a steal. Junior Jayden Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Immaculate Conception) played a key role in directing the offense, finishing with a season-high five assists and five points, all from the free-throw line, along with two rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Junior Donovan Crawford (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) rounded out the Knights' effort with seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Western Connecticut State placed four players in double figures, led by Marcel Henry's 20-point performance to go along with four rebounds. Nick Boyce recorded a well-rounded stat line with 12 points, a game-high nine rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal. Elijah Guillaume added 12 points and five rebounds, while Tayejon Lynch filled the box score with 11 points, six assists, five blocks, two rebounds, and a steal.
The Wolves seized early momentum, building a 26-16 lead midway through the first half. NJCU responded with an impressive 15-4 run over the final minutes of the period to take its first lead of the game. A layup by Rogers-Robinson in the closing seconds sent the Gothic Knights into halftime with a narrow 33-32 advantage.
NJCU carried that momentum into the second half, extending its lead to 57-45 following a 13-2 run sparked by an and-one conversion from Shelton after a feed from Philogene. That marked the largest lead of the game for the Gothic Knights. Western Connecticut State answered with a decisive 16-1 run, fueled by aggressive play that sent the Wolves to the free-throw line eight times during the stretch, reclaiming the lead at 61-58.
The Gothic Knights battled down the stretch, pulling within one possession on multiple occasions following free throws by Rogers-Robinson and Brown at 4:48, 1:38, and 1:05 remaining. Each time, WCSU responded, closing the game on an 8-3 run to secure the 73-65 victory.
Up Next:
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when it hosts an NJAC showdown against the undefeated Red Hawks (10-0, 5-0 NJAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
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.
