SOURCE: https://njcugothicknights.com/news/2018/12/2/201812-01_MBASKETBALL_vs_Rowan.aspx

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore shooting guard Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/(East Orange Campus) scored with 2:29 remaining and senior point guard James Richardson (Jersey City, NJ/Snyder) went 4-for-4 from the line in the final 22 seconds to help nationally No. 24 ranked New Jersey City University fend off once-beaten Rowan University 76-68, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on December 1 at John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
The victory improves the Gothic Knights to 5-2 (2-1 NJAC) on the season, while the Profs lose for just the second time (4-2, 1-2 NJAC).
 
Five Gothic Knights scored in double figures on the afternoon. Senior Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) led the way with 20 points (5-10 FG) in 24 minutes, making 7-of-10 foul shots and a game-high three three-pointers.
 
Richardson didn't start for the first time yet scored 12 points and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Senior point guard Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) chipped in with 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG) and had a team-high four assists.
 
Banks, the reigning NJAC Player of the Week, added 11 points (5-9 FG) and five steals in just 14 minutes of action and sophomore center Chika Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter)) finished with 11 points. Junior All-American Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored just three points on an off shooting night but controlled the glass for the Gothic Knights in the contest with eight rebounds. NJCU went with a short rotation with only nine players seeing game action.
 
Rowan only led for 1:28 of the game and NJCU dominated the first half, shooting 15-of-33 in the period to seize a 23-point halftime lead at 45-22. Rowan was limited to 7-of-22 in the opening half, including 1-for-9 three-point shooting (11.1 percent).
 
Rowan's second half told a different story as they shot 15-for-26 from the field (57.7 percent) and 4-for-9 from three-point range to make it interesting down the stretch.
 
NJCU still led by 20 with 7:54 to go on a Green three. But the Profs outscored the Gothic Knights in the second half, 46-31, and used a 22-6 run over the final seven minutes to close within four points. Up 11 with 5:03 to play, Rowan would cut the score to 68-63, on a Nick DePersia (Cherry Hill, N.J.) free-throw with 3:46 remaining. Banks would score four of the next five points to increase the NJCU lead to 72-64. A jumper by senior forward Ramon Wright (Newark, N.J.) and free-throws from senior Teirique Robinson (Willingboro, N.J.) and freshman guard Connor Dickerson (Marlton, N.J) cut Rowan's deficit down to 72-68 with 58 seconds remaining.
 
After NJCU turned it over on the next possession, Nick DePersia missed a layup with 29 seconds remaining with a chance to make it a one possession game before Richardson would ice it from the line.
 
NJCU dominated in transition and the Knights scored 52 of their 76 points off of 26 forced turnovers in the contest.
 
DePersia recorded a team-high 18 points, including 15 in the second half, while knocking down a team-best three three-pointers. He added seven assists, six rebounds and three steals. Dickerson scored 14 points while Wright matched a game-high with eight rebounds and four steals while posting 11 points.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 123rd known meeting. NJCU regains a 62-61 lead in the series.
• NJCU ranked No. 24 by D3hoops.com.
• Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) scored in double figures for the 23rd time in 34 games as a Gothic Knight and the second time this season. It was his fourth effort of 20+ points in two years as an NJCU player.
• Banks scored in double figures for the fourth time in seven games this year.
• Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) scored in double figures for the seventh time in his career and second time this season
• Richardson scored in double figures for the second time in his only season as a Gothic Knight—both in the last two games.
• Wosu scored in double figures for the eighth time in his career and the first time this season.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU is back on the court on Monday, December 3 (7 p.m.) in a matchup of arguably the two best teams in their conference. The Gothic Knights—the preseason favorite in the NJAC will host Albertus Magnus, the 2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) regular season champions and perennial NCAA qualifiers. The Falcons are 6-2 overall and have won three straight.

 
Last year, NJCU edged Albertus Magnus, 81-80, on December 16, 2017 in New Haven, Conn. Current
senior Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) (34 points) hit a running game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to win it and
in the process was named Division III National Player of the Week. It will be the fifth meeting between
the schools in a series tied, 2-2. NJCU has won each of the last two seasons.
 
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