JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's basketball team secured a 78-65 win over Rutgers-Camden on Senior Night, Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the John J. Moore Athletics Center (JMAC). The evening was especially meaningful as NJCU honored six seniors: Quamir Martin (Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark), Brenden Kelly (Clark, N.J./Elizabeth), Isaiah Johnson-Williams (Jersey City, N.J./Don Bosco), Jaheim Lewis (Hillside, N.J./Hillside), Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International), and Hakeem Wilson (Newark, N.J./North Star Academy). This victory also extended the Gothic Knights' dominance over Rutgers-Camden, as they have now won seven consecutive matchups against the Scarlet Raptors, and 66 of the last 69 encounters. In fact, NJCU has not lost to Rutgers-Camden at the JMAC in over 30 years.

NJCU (13-12, 8-10 NJAC) shot 42.9% from the field (27-63) and 79.2% from the free-throw line (19-24). Though they struggled from beyond the arc, making just 33.3% of their three-point attempts (5-15), they controlled key areas of the game, especially in rebounding, where they outrebounded Rutgers-Camden 39-37. The Gothic Knights also held the advantage in points off turnovers (12-10) and second-chance points (8-6). On the other hand, Rutgers-Camden (9-15, 4-14 NJAC) shot 41.3% from the field (26-63), 24% from three-point range (6-25), and 43.8% from the free-throw line (7-16). Despite a strong performance from their bench and in fastbreak points (15-8), the Scarlet Raptors couldn't overcome NJCU's strong finish.

Jaheim Lewis (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) was the standout performer for the Gothic Knights, finishing with a double-double: 22 points (8-16), 3-for-4 from beyond-the-arc, and 12 rebounds. This marked his sixth double-double of the season. Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) also had an impressive showing, scoring 17 points (5-12), grabbing four rebounds, and contributing a season-high two steals. Hakeem Wilson (Newark, N.J./North Star Academy) added 14 points (6-10), four rebounds, and two assists, while Isaiah Johnson-Williams (Jersey City, N.J./Don Bosco) helped on the defensive end with seven rebounds and eight points. Junior Raymond Ezike (Newark, N.J./Westside) made his presence felt in the paint, recording a game-high three blocks.

For Rutgers-Camden, Eric Benjamin led the way with 18 points and two assists, while Cherif Kanoute contributed 16 points and six rebounds. Cameron Downs added six rebounds to the Scarlet Raptors' effort.

The game began with Rutgers-Camden opening on a 6-0 run, but NJCU quickly responded with a 9-0 spurt, and at 14:58, Zaire Jefferson (Newark, N.J./Payne Tech) gave the Gothic Knights their first lead of the night, 7-6. The Scarlet Raptors answered with a 10-0 run, highlighted by Benjamin's five points, to lead 18-11 with 7:41 remaining. Rutgers-Camden extended their advantage to 25-15 with a three-pointer from Benjamin at 4:05. NJCU then fought back, closing the half with a 9-3 run, trimming the deficit to 30-24. Brenden Kelly (Clark, N.J./Elizabeth) led the charge with six points in the first half.

In the second half, Rutgers-Camden continued to build their lead until a key three-pointer from Jaheim Lewis (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) ignited a 13-0 run by NJCU, bringing the game to a one-point deficit at 43-41. Wilson contributed eight points during the run, while Lewis added five. With 10:38 left, Gilbert put NJCU in the lead with a free throw and a dunk, making it 51-48. Rutgers-Camden stayed within striking distance but never regained the lead. Although the Scarlet Raptors made a push to cut the deficit to three points with 4:26 remaining, NJCU responded with a 16-6 run, capped off by Gilbert and Johnson-Williams each contributing six points, pushing the lead to 78-65 and sealing the win.

With this victory, NJCU finished their NJAC regular season and now awaits the results of other games to determine their positioning for the ECAC postseason tournament.

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.