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| Jalen Harris is one of the kew new faces for NJCU, leading the team with 212 points, 16.3 per game. NJCU athletics photo by Larry Levanti |
Losing four starters and seven seniors overall to graduation this past spring left New Jersey City in “complete rebuild mode,” coach Marc Brown said.
“It was key for us to have a good recruiting class, which we did,” Brown said. “We brought in some quality freshmen.” Brown also added senior Chinwe Wosu, who returned to the team after a season off to focus on academics, and junior Jalen Harris, a transfer.
With so many new players, New Jersey City is a rebuilt team. But this is not a rebuilding season. After finishing at .500 in the NJAC in each of the past three years, the Gothic Knights now find themselves atop the NJAC standings.
“Guys collectively are playing a little tougher, a little harder, and just giving more effort,” Brown said. “It’s really that simple.”
The team’s only conference loss came on Saturday against The College of New Jersey, and it was almost a win. New Jersey City (8-5, 6-1 NJAC) led by one point with 1:12 left but lost by two, 76-74.
Freshman James Frazier is averaging a team-high 17 points per game. He had 24 points in New Jersey City’s win over Stockton. Harris (16.3 points per game) and Wosu (16.0) also average double figures in scoring. Wosu, a strong rebounder as well, had a double-double in each of three conference games.
Freshmen Yuri Brutus and James Julius play more than 20 minutes per game. Brutus scored 16 points in a two-point win against Rowan, while Julius had a career-high 18 against Kean. Julius has hit 40 percent of his three-point attempts. Jeremiah Boone-Alexandre and Tyler Caldwell are also seeing significant minutes in their rookie seasons.
New Jersey City trailed at halftime in three NJAC games and won all of them. Now, the Gothic Knights will attempt another comeback: from their first NJAC loss. New Jersey City hosts Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday.
Crowded in the city
The CUNYAC men’s basketball race is tight at the top. Lehman is 5-1 in conference games, good for first place, while three teams -- Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Baruch -- have two league losses apiece. Second-place Brooklyn has won five CUNYAC games. Staten Island and Baruch, tied for third place, have each won four.
Lehman and Baruch face off on Wednesday. Lehman is coming off its first conference loss, an 82-76 defeat to Staten Island. Lehman and Brooklyn will meet in Brooklyn on Jan. 27. In the teams’ first matchup, in the Bronx on Dec. 11, Lehman earned an 80-77 win.
With so many new players, New Jersey City is a rebuilt team. But this is not a rebuilding season. After finishing at .500 in the NJAC in each of the past three years, the Gothic Knights now find themselves atop the NJAC standings.Losing four starters and seven seniors overall to graduation this past spring left New Jersey City in “complete rebuild mode,” coach Marc Brown said.
“It was key for us to have a good recruiting class, which we did,” Brown said. “We brought in some quality freshmen.” Brown also added senior Chinwe Wosu, who returned to the team after a season off to focus on academics, and junior Jalen Harris, a transfer.
With so many new players, New Jersey City is a rebuilt team. But this is not a rebuilding season. After finishing at .500 in the NJAC in each of the past three years, the Gothic Knights now find themselves atop the NJAC standings.
“Guys collectively are playing a little tougher, a little harder, and just giving more effort,” Brown said. “It’s really that simple.”
The team’s only conference loss came on Saturday against The College of New Jersey, and it was almost a win. New Jersey City (8-5, 6-1 NJAC) led by one point with 1:12 left but lost by two, 76-74.
Freshman James Frazier is averaging a team-high 17 points per game. He had 24 points in New Jersey City’s win over Stockton. Harris (16.3 points per game) and Wosu (16.0) also average double figures in scoring. Wosu, a strong rebounder as well, had a double-double in each of three conference games.
Freshmen Yuri Brutus and James Julius play more than 20 minutes per game. Brutus scored 16 points in a two-point win against Rowan, while Julius had a career-high 18 against Kean. Julius has hit 40 percent of his three-point attempts. Jeremiah Boone-Alexandre and Tyler Caldwell are also seeing significant minutes in their rookie seasons.
New Jersey City trailed at halftime in three NJAC games and won all of them. Now, the Gothic Knights will attempt another comeback: from their first NJAC loss. New Jersey City hosts Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday.
Crowded in the city
The CUNYAC men’s basketball race is tight at the top. Lehman is 5-1 in conference games, good for first place, while three teams -- Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Baruch -- have two league losses apiece. Second-place Brooklyn has won five CUNYAC games. Staten Island and Baruch, tied for third place, have each won four.
Lehman and Baruch face off on Wednesday. Lehman is coming off its first conference loss, an 82-76 defeat to Staten Island. Lehman and Brooklyn will meet in Brooklyn on Jan. 27. In the teams’ first matchup, in the Bronx on Dec. 11, Lehman earned an 80-77 win.
