GRANTHAM, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University senior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) notched eight of his team-best 16 points in overtime and five different players scored in double figures as the Gothic Knights won their first regular-season tournament under head coach MARC BROWN, defeating host Messiah College, 72-66 in one overtime, in the championship game of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Tournament.
Junior swingman KAIHRIQUE IRICK (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after scoring 29 points on 13-of-25 shooting with 11 rebounds in two games. Junior small forward WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) earned All-Tournament Team selection after netting 25 points (9-for-16 FG) with 13 rebounds during the weekend.
NJCU improves to 2-0, winning its first tournament since claiming the Emmanuel College Tip-Off Tournament on November 18-19, 2006 in the final year of Hall-of-Fame coach Charlie Brown's tenure. Messiah (2-1) loses its first game of the season. It was the first-ever meeting between the schools in men's basketball.
NJCU shot 4-for-5 from the field in overtime and made 6-of-7 foul shots (.857), while holding the Falcons to 3-of-9 shooting in the extra session.