Monday, February 14, 2011 (Men's Basketball)

NJCU ROUTS MONTCLAIR STATE, 82-62, TO CLINCH NO. 2 SEED IN NJAC TOURNAMENT; GOTHIC KNIGHT WINNING STREAK STANDS AT NINE

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University committed a mere six turnovers, including just two in the first half and nine different players scored at least seven points as the Gothic Knights extended their remarkable winning streak to nine in a row—all by double figures—and clinched second place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division with a convincing 82-62 victory over rival Montclair State University, 82-62, in an NJAC game on Monday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on "Coach Charlie Brown Court." It was the first game of a home-and-home between NJCU and MSU to close the season.

NJCU, which also won for the 13^th time in 15 games, improves to 16-8 and 8-4 in the NJAC. Montclair State, which entered the week in a must win situation, falls to 17-7 (7-5 NJAC). MSU leads the all-time series, which dates to 1932-33, 87-65. The game was a make-up of a January 26 postponement. NJCU is now 9-2 at home this season and has won 12 of its last 14 in Jersey City since last season.

For NJCU, the second half surge this season gives the Gothic Knights a home game in the NJAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday, February 19 against Rowan University (time TBA). Meanwhile, Montclair will go into Wednesday's 8 p.m. game against the Knights in Montclair, NJ in a must win situation. If NJCU wins, MSU is eliminated from the NJAC Tournament and Rutgers-Newark will qualify.

The balanced NJCU scoring attack was on full display as the Knights' reserves outscored the Red Hawks bench, 48-19. Montclair only committed 13 turnovers but NJCU used its seven steals to generate a 12-1 advantage in points off giveaways. On a team that has changed its fortunes this season due to its unselfishness, NJCU was credited with an assist on 22 of 28 made field goals.

NJCU, one of the top ranked teams in the nation in turnover margin, has committed only single digit giveaways in three of its last four games. The six turnovers in this win were the fewest by the program since committing just five in a loss to then #1 ranked Williams College on January 3, 2004—NJCU's last NJAC championship season. Of the turnovers vs. Montclair, two came late in the second half on a lane violation and a shot clock violation with six seconds remaining when trying to run out the game clock.

Senior guard JAMES LIVINGSTON (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) led NJCU with 11 points (2-6 3FG), seven defensive rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes. Senior swingman ROB ROBINSON (Newark, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) scored 10 points in 13 minutes, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point distance. Junior center JOSH HOSANG (Hackensack, NJ/Palm Beach Central (Fla.)) grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds (nine defensive) with five points and three assists.

Also for NJCU, senior power forward TOM McDERMOTT (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) provided eight rebounds, seven points and two steals. Sophomore guard ASHMERE WILSON (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) registered nine points (3-6 FG) with two assists and senior point guard DA'SHON BARRINO (East Orange, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) collected eight points (2-4 3FG) with two assists. Sophomore point guard NAADIR WILLIAMS (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) had eight points (3-8 FG).

Other standouts for the Knights included junior forward TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) with seven points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting from the field and line, with three assists. Junior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) chalked up seven points with four assists, three steals and two blocks and sophomore forward WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) contributed seven points. Even rookie MICHAEL JOHNSON (Newark, NJ/Irvington), known for his defense, nailed a three—the only shot he took in the game—as the Knights buried 10 triples in the contest (10-27, .370).

Montclair received a double-double in a losing effort from senior forward Tyrone Prewitt (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central), finishing with 16 points (8-14 FG) and 15 rebounds (nine defensive). Junior forward Andrew August (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) added 15 points (4-8 FG, 7-9 FT) and eight rebounds (seven defensive). Freshman guard Michael Price (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) totaled nine points (4-8 FG) and three assists.

It was a close game early in the first half. With MSU leading 8-5, Livingston converted the coveted four-point play, draining a three and a foul shot after being floored. MSU, which led by no more than four points (4-0), had its last lead at the 12:46 mark, 14-13, on two free throws by August. Wilson was fouled from long range and sank all three free throws.

But after a 16-16 tie, NJCU took control of the game with a 13-2 run to claim an 11-point, 29-18 lead with 7:21 left in the half. Three-pointers by Naadir Williams (11:31), Robinson (10:35) and Abdullah (9:14) made it 25-18. Abdullah sank two from the line before Robinson scored on the putback of a missed fast break layup attempt. NJCU maintained an 11-point lead, 33-22, when Keith Williams swiped a pass and scored on the fast break with 3:12 left in the period and a Wilson fast break bucket off a feed from Livingston extended the advantage to 13, 35-22, just 1:26 prior to the half. The Knights led 36-28 at the break.

NJCU was able to keep the lead between nine and 14 points for much of the early stages of the second half. Price cut it to eight, 50-42 with a three at 12:33. The Knights quickly pushed the lead back to a dozen at 11:35 on a nifty layup by Naadir Williams. A jumper by Robinson held a 56-44 lead and Johnson drilled a three at 9:45 for a 59-47 cushion. With its post-season lives on the line, the Red Hawks managed to cut the deficit to seven at 8:41, 59-52, and it was a 62-54 advantage with 7:24 remaining on a Prewitt tip in.

But the Knights squashed any potential Montclair comeback by unleashing an 11-2 run that served as the knockout blow. A jumper by Abdullah made it 64-54 and Livingston's fast break layup with 4:53 remaining extended the lead to 67-54. Keith Williams took a scary fall on his back with a steal under the MSU basket, but recovered after the foul to sink two foul shots at 4:37. Livingston upped the lead to 17, 71-54, with 4:00 remaining. NJCU completed the rout when Barrino drilled a three at 2:28 (76-58), Livingston buried a triple for a 21-point margin (79-58, 1:44) and Keith Williams sank a trey with 52 seconds remaining for an 82-60 cushion.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—