ROCHESTER, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University opened its 80th season of intercollegiate men's basketball with a nearly brand new cast and a familiar result—a dominant win. NJCU outscored 2012 NCAA Tournament qualifier St. Joseph's College (LI) 12-2 in the final 2:54 of the first half and outscored the Golden Eagles 46-25 in the second period, en route to a 91-58 lopsided decision in the season opener for both schools on November 16 in the opening round of the Nazareth College Tournament at Kidera Gymnasium.
NJCU (1-0) will face Nazareth College (1-0)—90-69 winners over SUNY New Paltz in the second game of the opening round—in the championship game of the event on Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m.
NJCU defeated Nazareth, 63-60, in the only meeting in history between the schools last season (December 17, 2011 in Jersey City).
St. Joseph's, coming off a successful 2011-12 campaign that included a 21-5 record (17-1 Skyline Conference), are one of three opponents this season that appeared in last year's NCAA Tournament (New York University, St. Joseph's, William Paterson University. It was the first meeting between the schools since December 4, 2004 and NJCU leads the all-time series, 3-0.
Rookie shooting guard KHALID MUHAMMAD (Orange, NJ/Orange) made the most of his debut, scoring a team-high 18 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3FG) in 18 minutes while senior center DAVID JONES (Millville, NJ/Cumberland Regional) notched his second career double-double while achieving career highs in points and rebounds, tallying 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 11 rebounds (eight defensive) before fouling out. Muhammad scored 12 in the second half (4-7, 2-2 3 FG).
Senior shooting guard NAADIR WILLIAMS (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half and finished the game one shy of his career scoring high, dropping five three-pointers (5-11 FG, 5-9 3FG) in 17 minutes. In the first half he shot 4-of-9—all coming from long range as he hit four of eight from three-point distance.
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