SOURCE: https://njcugothicknights.com/news/2019/1/19/201901-19_MBASKETBALL_at_Rowan.aspx

GLASSBORO, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In a matchup of the first and second place squads in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the first place New Jersey City University men's basketball team lead by 13 at halftime and continued to hold a 46-33 edge with 16:44 remaining. But upstart Rowan University used an 18-1 run over the next 4:35 to take the lead and would not relinquish it in a tight contest that was possession to possession for the rest of the game to escape with an 84-80 win on January 19 at Esby Gymnasium. Rowan never led by more than seven points at any juncture in the second half.
 
The loss snaps NJCU's four-game winning streak and drops the Gothic Knights to 13-5 overall and 8-3 in the NJAC. NJCU had won seven of their last eight games coming in. Rowan improves to 14-4 and draws even with NJCU at the top of the conference at 8-3. The clubs split the season series with NJCU winning in Jersey City on December 1, 76-68.
 
Junior All-American Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to produce his 20th career double-double and second of the season, adding four steals in 33 minutes. Rowan senior guard DaRon Curry (Deptford, N.J.) led all scorers with 27 points (9-13 FG, 3-6 3FG) and seven rebounds.
 
NJCU jumped out to a 22-11 lead midway through the first half and led by as many as 15 with 4:54 left in the first half to seize a 32-17 advantage. NJCU maintained a 36-23 margin at the break.
 
Early in the second half, NJCU still led by 13 after threes by seniors Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) and James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden) and it remained a 13-point advantage after 6-foot-8 Rowan center Diante Bah (Mount Holly, N.J.) and Toney traded dunks.
 
But another Bah slam, coming off an offensive rebound, swung the momentum back towards Rowan as it ripped off 18 of the next 19 points. Curry scored eight of the 18, hitting a three off a turnover on the next possession after the Bah dunk, before capping the outburst with a three-point play with 12:09 remaining to build a 51-47 lead.
 
Toney scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half to try to will NJCU back to victory. He hit a three with 9:59 left to make it 55-52 and hit two foul shots to make it a one-point deficit (58-57) with 7:43 to go. After Rowan pushed the lead to six after a three-point play by freshman guard Connor Dickerson (Marlton, N.J.), Toney buried another three and senior guard Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) sank four foul shots, the second set with 4:58 remaining, to make it a one-point game (67-66) with 4:58 left.
 
After a layup by Curry, Toney drilled a three with 4:32 on the board to even the game at 69-69.
 
But Rowan responded; 6-foot-7 senior forward Ramon Wright (Newark, N.J.) dunked to put the Profs back on top and senior guard Rob DePersia (Cherry Hill, N.J.) connected for a crucial three with 3:44 to go to make it a five-point, 74-69 contest. A steal and bucket by Curry extended the late margin to 80-73 with 1:15 left.
 
Yet NJCU still had a chance. The Knights got back in the game from the line. Sophomore guard Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/(East Orange Campus) sank a pair from the stripe with 42 seconds left to shave the deficit to two (80-78). After forcing DePersia into a turnover seconds later, NJCU had a chance to tie it.
 
But NJCU committed a crucial turnover with 33 seconds remaining.  After a free throw by Rowan, Toney couldn't sink a three. Dickerson hit three from the line down the stretch. Green's layup with 1.9 seconds left was as close as NJCU could whittle it.
 
Green scored 19 for NJCU, hitting 8-of-8 from the line and 5-of-9 from the field. Senior forward Yuri Brutus (Roselle, NJ/Roselle Park) scored 11 (5-9 FG) in 19 minutes before he and Julius both fouled out. Banks had nine points while Worthy contributed five assists.
 
For Rowan, Wright netted 12 points (5-11 FG) with six rebounds and Bah grabbed 11 boards and two blocks, adding eight points and two blocks. Dickerson finished with 11 points (3-4 FG) while DePersia collected nine points and six assists.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 124th known meeting. All-time series even, 62-62.
• Yuri Brutus (Roselle, NJ/Roselle Park) scored in double figures for the eighth time this year and the 27th time in his career.
• Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) scored in double figures for the 32nd time in 45 games as a Gothic Knight and the 11th time this season.
• Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored in double figures for the 57th time in 74 career games.
• Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored at least 20 points in a game for the 26th time in his career, the 23rd time in his last 45 games and the ninth time this season.
• Toney produced the 11th 25+ point performance of his career and his fourth 25+ point game of the season.
• Toney is still 18th place in school history with 1,212 points.
• Toney reached double figures in rebounds for the 21st time in his career.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU is 7-0 at home this season and will seek redemption for an 88-72 loss at William Paterson University on November 28 when it hosts the Pioneers in a rematch at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Wednesday, January 23 at 8 p.m.

 
GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on #NJCUMBB, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. Preferred hashtags are #GothicFamily and #GothicGameDay.