NJCU WINS FIRST CLOSE GAME OF THE SEASON; HOLDS OFF TCNJ, 71-69

EWING, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | For the first time this year, the New Jersey City University men's basketball team has won a game without having to blowout the opponent. Junior center JOSH HOSANG (Hackensack, NJ/Palm Beach Central (Fla.)) scored 14 of his career-high 18 points in the second half and junior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) added 15 points before junior center DASHAWN EAGLE (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) blocked a potential game-winning three-pointer by The College of New Jersey with less than two seconds remaining as the Gothic Knights defeated TCNJ, 71-69, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Saturday at Packer Hall.

NJCU, which had won its first four games of the season by a combined 165 points but dropped all six contests that were decided by four or less, improves to 5-6 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC, winning its second straight game. TCNJ falls to 3-11 (0-4 NJAC). Since the 1955-56 season, NJCU is 67-40 against the Lions.

Eagle, the NJAC leader in blocked shots, stuffed his only shot of the game as TCNJ junior guard Albert Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) attempted a 24-foot straight away three-pointer with less than two seconds on the clock, then grabbed the rebound on a tie-up with 0.4 seconds remaining as NJCU made a successful final defensive stand to preserve the two-point win. Matlock had a game-best 23 points (8-17 FG, 1-4 3FG, 6-6 FT) with four steals but committed five turnovers for the Lions.

Hosang's 18 points came on 7-of-10 shooting (4-6 FT) and added seven rebounds in 19 reserve minutes. Keith Williams collected 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and made 2-of-3 from three-point distance, with three assists and two steals. Sophomore point guard NAADIR WILLIAMS (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) added 10 points in 16 minutes, knocking down 3-of-4 three-point shots in the game. He has seven threes during NJCU's modest two-game winning streak.

In all, nine players scored for NJCU as the Knights shot 50.9 percent overall (27-53) and 42.9 percent from three-point range (6-14). The Knights had a 40-8 advantage in bench scoring in the contest.

TCNJ senior forward Steve Siracusa (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) provided 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, with seven rebounds and five steals. Sophomore forward Brian Kelly (Clark, NJ/Lawrenceville Prep) had 11 points (3-7 FG) and made 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Early on it looked like TCNJ might become another blowout victim of the Knights. After an early 4-4 tie, NJCU scored 15 of the next 18 points to gain a 19-7 lead after Naadir Williams drilled a three with 11:31 on the clock. A pair of Hosang layups, including an offensive rebound of his own miss that was putback, gave NJCU an 18-point, 29-11 margin with 7:39 left in the half and the Knights maintained a 16-point, 31-15 lead with 5:46 to go.

TCNJ scored 16 of the final 21 points of the half behind Matlock who had 13 in the period and seven during the late run as the Lions drew within five at the break, 36-31.

TCNJ scored the first seven points of the second half and gained its first lead of the game at 38-36, as its scoring run reached 23 of 28. It was the fourth time this season NJCU has failed to hold a lead of at least 17 points.

The long-time rivals traded three ties and six leads by the time Keith Williams scored on a layup with 10:45 remaining for a 51-50 lead moments after Naadir Williams buried a triple. With 9:24 left, Naadir Williams drilled yet another three and NJCU's lead stood at 56-52.

Another seven-point swing allowed TCNJ to regain a lead as Kelly sank a pair of threes at 6:46 and 4:48; the latter gave the Lions a 59-56 lead—their largest of the game.

Hosang began to take charge, scoring twice in a span of 14 seconds, including a steal that led to a fast-break layup. The Lions were charged with an intentional foul on the opportunity. Hosang sank one free throw and NJCU was awarded the ball, which led to a 63-59 lead with 4:08 to go as Hosang scored his seventh consecutive point. But TCNJ tied it again, 63-63, with 3:27 remaining, as Siracusa and Matlock scored.

Senior shooting guard DA'SHON BARRINO (East Orange, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) had a relatively quite night but converted big free throws down the stretch, sinking two with 3:11 to put NJCU back in front for good. TCNJ was unable to score on its next two possessions, as Hosang blocked one shot and Barrino grabbed a rebound on a later three-point chance by Kelly. Barrino was fouled and knocked down two more foul shots with 1:50 left for a 67-63 cushion. With 1:23 to go, Siracusa was fouled on a drive to the basket and completed a three-point play with a free throw that made it 67-66. Hosang converted both his free throw chances with 1:09 left for a 69-66 lead.

NJCU still led by three, 70-67, after the clubs traded missed free throws on the back end of two shots. With 20.5 seconds on the clock, Matlock was sent to the line after a blocking foul and trimmed the deficit to one, 70-69, sinking two shots.

With 14.3 remaining, Keith Williams was fouled and made the first of two free throws for the 71-69 final margin. After he missed the second chance, Siracusa grabbed the board and TCNJ had the chance to tie or win. NJCU applied good defensive pressure to cut off the interior, forcing Matlock to attempt a long-range shot and the 5-foot-10 guard was rejected by the 6-foot-8 Eagle as the Knights prevailed.

NJCU is back in action and plays its first home game since December 8 when it hosts William Paterson University in an NJAC North Division game on Wednesday, January 12 at 8 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—