JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Following a back-and-forth first half of play, the New Jersey City University men's basketball squad opened things up in the second en route to a dominant 22-point victory, 78-56, over Rutgers-Newark at home on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 3, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. Junior guard Hakeem Wilson (Newark, N.J./North Star Academy) led all players with 23 points, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line, while junior forward Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood) had a dominant double-double off the bench.
Prior to the start of today's contest, members of the hallowed 1973-74 Jersey City State College squad — winners to two straight New Jersey State Athletic Conference (NJSAC) championships and back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament fifth-place regional finishes — were recognized at half court. That alumni presence could certainly have contributed to the current Gothic Knights (7-15, 4-11 NJAC) as they toppled the Scarlet Raiders (11-11, 7-8 NJAC) on Coach Charlie Brown Court for the first time since 2018.
Once things got underway, the Green and Gold started off the day with a 6-0 run to force an early timeout by Rutgers-Newark. The visitors eventually clawed all the way back before taking a one-point, 9-8 lead with 11:35 to go in the first half. However, the Gothic Knights immediately answered with a 9-2 run to go up by six, including a massive dunk from Savoy. After the Scarlet Raiders trimmed the lead a couple of times, NJCU again went up by six at 29-23 with 00:58 on the clock, but Rutgers-Newark trimmed it to four to end the first.
The second half began with the teams trading buckets before Wilsom converted on a three-point play to put his squad up by seven at 36-29 with 18:31 to go in regulation. A 6-1 run for Rutgers-Newark cut it back down to a two-point game, but NJCU once again answered, this time with an 8-1 run, to take a nine-point 45-36 lead with 13:02 to go — Wilson had four of those nine points. The Scarlet Raiders continued to contest the Gothic Knights, but the home team stepped into high gear and went on an 18-2 run to take a commanding 23-point lead at 67-44 with just 5:38 remaining in the game. Wilson again had seven during that run, while senior forward Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) have five.
The Green and Gold eventually built up a game-high 25-point cushion following a three from rookie guard Julian Caldejon (Jersey City, N.J./McNair Academic) at 1:42 and again at 78-53 with 00:36 following a lay-in from freshman guard March Brown, Jr. (Union, N.J./Essex County Newark Tech), before officially putting the Scarlet Raiders away by 22 at 8-56.
Highlights:
- Savoy finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field, as well as 2-of-2 at the line, and added a game-high-tying two blocks, two assists, a steal and a game-best 12 rebounds.
- Gilbert chipped in 11 to round out the double-figure scorers, adding five boards, a block and a steal.
- Senior co-captain Will Brown III (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) finished with nine rebounds, seven points, a game-best four assists, a block and a steal.
- NJCU dominated down low and on the offensive glass, outscoring Rutgers-Newark in the paint and in second-chance points, 42-18 and 22-10, respectively.
Up Next:
NJCU returns to action on the road on Wednesday night, Feb. 7, in Glassboro, N.J., for a NJAC clash at Rowan University, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the completion of the women's contest. The two squads burnt down the barn in their last meeting, a 114-111 overtime thriller at the JMAC in favor of the Profs back on Dec. 13, 2023 — six Gothic Knights scored in double figures that night.