Jersey City, NJ: The New Jersey City University men's basketball team defeated Ramapo College 89-84 in NJAC conference action. The Gothic Knights improve to 19-5 overall and 13-4 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners now stand at 18-6 overall and 14-3 in the conference.
The Roadrunners used two runs in the first half to take a 46-40 into the locker room. NJCU led by seven 28-21 with less than ten minutes to play in the half. Ramapo's Patrick Peterson started a run with a three-pointer before he tied the game with a layup 28-28 with 8:17 on the clock. Thomas Bonacum hit a jumper to put the Roadrunners in the lead for the first time in the game 30-28 (7:06). Robert Gordon sank a three-pointer for NJCU before the Roadrunners retook a three-point lead 34-31 following a layup from Rob McWilliams and a pair of free throws from Peterson. Lavrone Green cut the lead to one with a jumper before Bonacum nailed a big three for Ramapo 37-33 with less than five minutes left to play. The Roadrunners went on a mini 7-0 run in the final three minutes of the half when McWilliams and Peterson scored back-to-back layups and Bonacum sank his second three-pointer of the game for an eight-point lead 46-38. NJCU scored the final two points of the half as James Julius sank a pair of free throws and Ramapo took a 46-40 lead into halftime.
Ramapo took their biggest lead to start the second half 48-40 with a jumper from Bonacum before an and-one play from Sam Toney cut the lead to 52-49. The Roadrunners extended their lead back to seven 56-49 when Ford and Bonacum each connected on a pair of free throws. A 17-8 run by NJCU put the Gothic Knights in the lead 66-64 with 10:18 on the clock. Peterson would sink a three-pointer and Bonacum scored a layup for Ramapo retaking the lead 69-66 with less than ten minutes on the clock. Marquis Blackwell hit a big three for NJCU while Jeff Haddock converted on an and-one play to retake a one point lead 72-71, the game would be tied two more times in the final seven minutes of action. Lavrone Green tied the game at 74 all with a jumper before Moseley scored a basket for Ramapo with 6:24 left in the game for a 76-76 score. A three-pointer from Haddock off a dish from Shaquan Worthy put NJCU in the lead for good 79-76 with 6:03 on the clock while the Roadrunners cut the lead to one on a pair of Moseley free throws. Toney and Peterson would trade baskets as NJCU led 81-80 (3:25) before Worthy nailed a three-pointer to take a four-point lead 84-80. Ford made it a two-point game with a layup with less than three minute to play before Toney hit a layup of his own with 1:17 on the clock to hold onto a 86-82 lead. Bonacum scored Ramapo's final points with a pair of free throws before the Gothic Knights scored their final three points of the game on the free throw line for a 89-84 win.
The Gothic Knights are ranked #1 in the NCAA Atlantic Region poll while the Roadrunners came into the game ranked #3. Three players for NJCU scored in double figures as Julius posted 15 points including three three-pointers while Haddock also connected on three three-pointers and finished with 14 points. Toney collected 13 points and a team high seven rebounds. The Gothic Knights shot 50% (31-62) from the field and the three-point line (11-22) while they shot 76% (16-21) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners were led by Bonacum who posted a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds while he dished out four assists. Peterson added 14 points while Ford posted 13 points and Moseley added ten points of his own. The Roadrunners shot 58% (31-53) from the field, 38% (5-13) from the three-point line and a season best 85% (17-20) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on Wednesday, February 14th at 7:30pm when they host Rowan University in the final regular season home game of the season. Ramapo will honor their senior class in a ceremony prior to the game.