NJCU'S LATE SEASON ROLL CONTINUES WITH FOURTH MOST LOPSIDED WIN IN SCHOOL HISTORY; KNIGHTS BLAST BERKELEY, 103-47

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In the 78-year history of the New Jersey City University men's basketball team, the Gothic Knights have played nearly 1700 games but have won by 50 or more points only 11 times. Interesting enough, in the 2010-11 season alone, NJCU has played 21 games and now won three times by at least 50, including a massive rout on Monday night. Six players reached double figures and the entire roster notched points and assist as NJCU posted the fourth most lopsided victory in program, blasting Berkeley College, 103-47, in a non-conference game on Monday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on "Coach Charlie Brown Court."

NJCU (13-8) wins its sixth consecutive game and for the 10^th time in l2 games while limiting an opponent to fewer than 50 points for the fifth time in six contests and the seventh time overall this season. NJCU is 3-0 all-time against Berkeley (3-12).

The Knights reach the 100-point threshold for the 80^th time in school history and second time this year, and improve to 78-2 all-time when scoring 100. The Knights are now 224-15 (.937) in 239 all-time games when scoring 90 in program history; it was the team's fourth 90-point scoring effort of the season.

The 56-point final margin of victory is the largest since a 57-point trouncing of Lehman College on December 19, 1989 (105-48). The program record for margin of victory is 59, set in 1970 and matched in 1972. NJCU twice led by as many as 58 points late in this contest. The Knights have also recorded victories by 53 and 51 points this year.

Furthermore, NJCU wins a game by 40 or more points for the 34th time in school history and blows out a team by 30 or more for 89^th time ever—and fifth time this year. Only three of NJCU's 13 wins this season have come by fewer than 10 points.

NJCU shot 59.7 percent overall, knocking down 40 of 67 shots and 6-of-12 (.500) from three-point range. NJCU shot a stifling 89.5 percent from the foul line, converting 17-of-19 chances.

The 89.5 free throw percentage set a single-game school record in a game with at least 15 attempts in school history. The previous mark was 87.0 percent (20-23) at William Paterson University on January 19, 2008. The record for all games with at least chances is .900 (9-10) on November 22, 2002 versus Chowan.

NJCU was credited with an assist of 30 of the 40 made baskets. That was 11 more assists than the previous season high of 19 and the most since achieving 34 against Rutgers-Camden on February 15, 2006.

The Knights jumped out to an enormous 36-10 lead in the opening 13 minutes of the game with 23 of those points coming in transition as NJCU posted a remarkable 37-8 advantage in points off turnovers in the game. NJCU dominated the fast break to a tune of 39-4, and held margins of 61-7 in bench scoring and 56-20 in the paint.

There were many statistical highlights for NJCU. One of the most intriguing was senior guard JAMES LIVINGSTON (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central). In his first season at NJCU, it took him just 11 minutes of playing time in this game to notch his first double-double, finishing with 12 points (3-6 FG), including 6-of-6 foul shooting, with a game-high 12 rebounds (nine defensive), five assists, four steals and two blocks in 17 minutes.

Senior guard DA'SHON BARRINO (East Orange, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) collected a game-best 17 points, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line. He added four assists and two steals in 20 minutes. Sophomore guard ASHMERE WILSON (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) matched his career high with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while delivering five assists and two steals in 18 minutes.

Junior forward TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) had 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 20 minutes, including a pair of monster transition dunks. Senior swingman ROB ROBINSON (East Orange, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) tallied 13 points (5-8 FG) and three assists in 19 minutes. Junior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) added 12 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3FG) and two assists.

Also for the Knights, junior center JOSH HOSANG (Hackensack, NJ/Palm Beach Central (Fla.)) tacked on seven rebounds, six points, three assists and two steals in 20 minutes and sophomore point guard NAADIR WILLIAMS (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) gave out four assists and knocked down 2-of-3 three-pointers for six points.

In defeat, sophomore guard Gary Williams, Jr. (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) had 14 points, four rebounds and four assists but shot 3-of-13 and committed 12 turnovers. Junior center Andre Javis (Hillside, NJ/Union) totaled 10 points (5-14 FG), six rebounds and two blocks.

NJCU quickly grabbed a 10-0 lead in the first 4:16 of action, including an electric alley oop dunk by sophomore forward WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) off a fast break send from Barrino. Berkeley managed to cut the deficit to 13-10.

But over the next six minutes, NJCU would score 23 unanswered points to blow the game open, including 17 consecutive points on an undefendable fast break. A Naadir Williams steal and Livingston feed led to a monster dunk by Abdullah and a 23-10 lead before a steal by Hosang led to more transition points by Keith Williams at 6:57 and a 36-10 cushion. During the run Livingston scored eight of his points, Robinson netted seven, including a trey, and Abdullah collected four.

NJCU's largest lead of the first half was twice 31, on a layup by Barrino (2:37) off a Hosang steal. With 2:06 left in the opening half, NJCU scored its 50^th point when Albright dished to the 6-foot-7, 235-pound Hosang for a long jumper. NJCU led 50-24 at halftime.

In the second half, it was all Gothic Knights as NJCU shot 64.5 percent in the period from the field (20-31) and made 11-of-12 (.917) from the line. Barrino gave NJCU its first 40-point lead when he drained three free throws with 9:12 remaining and a pair of Livingston foul shots made it a 50-point lead, 87-37, with 5:49 left.

The all-time record for margin of victory was in sight when Abdullah tipped home an offensive rebound for a 57-point, 95-38 lead with 3:59 left and the Knights twice led by 58 points, including 103-45 when a Livingston steal led to a fast break slam by Abdullah with 39 seconds to go, before winning by 56.

NJCU returns to the court for the first of four New Jersey Athletic Conference games to close the regular season on Wednesday, February 9 at 8 p.m. when it visits William Paterson University in an NJAC North Division contest at the Rec Center in Wayne, NJ. The Knights are in third place in the NJAC North Division with a home game against first place and #23 ranked Ramapo College, and a home and home series with second place Montclair State University on the horizon.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—