EWING, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The Gothic Knights took the road never before traveled but on February 11, reached the destination they intended. New Jersey City University freshman and six-time NJAC Rookie of the Week KHALID MUHAMMAD (Orange, NJ/Orange) scored 23 points in consecutive games and NJCU completed a remarkable second half comeback to its season, clinching the final berth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament by cruising past The College of New Jersey, 65-53, on Monday night at Packer Hall.
NJCU (13-11, 8-9 NJAC) becomes the first known team in any sport in the history of the NJAC to open a season with an 0-7 league record and recover to qualify for the conference's post-season tournament, as NJCU shot 53.2 percent overall (25-47) and an incredible 70.6 percent in the second half (12-17).
Meanwhile, NJCU won its sixth consecutive game and improved to 9-2 overall in its last 11 games—an 8-2 ledger in the NJAC after losing its first seven league games. NJCU also swept the season series from TCNJ (5-19, 3-14 NJAC).
NJCU will face either Rutgers-Newark or Richard Stockton College in the NJAC Quarterfinals on Saturday, February 16 at a time to be determined after Wednesday's results.
The Knights held an opponent to 55 or fewer points for the 11th time this season and improved to 9-2 when they do. TCNJ shot 32.1 percent for the gamer (17-53) and 2-for-13 from three-point distance (.154).
Muhammad exceeded 20 points for the fifth time this season and the Knights improved to 4-1 when he does as the league's Rookie of the Week in each of the last two weeks scored more than double anyone else in the game, shooting 8-of-13 overall and 6-for-9 from the line, tallying 23 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes. Muhammadreached double figures in scoring for the 20th time this year and led the club in points for an 18th time as he was again one point shy of his career high. He scored 13 of his 23 in the opening half to help NJCU build a 15-point lead at the intermission.
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