GRANTHAM, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior shooting guard Jalen Harris(Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) scored a game-high 26 points in just his second game as a member of the New Jersey City University men's basketball program and senior power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter) produced his first career double-double, but No. 19 ranked Franklin & Marshall pulled away from the Gothic Knights in the late first and early second half in a 79-67 outcome on November 20. The game was the opening round of the Townes Place Suites Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Messiah College.
NJCU (0-2) will face host Messiah in the tournament's consolation game at 1 p.m. on November 21 after the Falcons were upset by Lancaster Bible College, 82-67. The Diplomats (3-0), ranked No. 19 in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 poll, play Lancaster Bible in the championship game.
In a physical contest, the clubs combined for 63 fouls (NJCU, 32; F&M, 31) and 79 free throws; NJCU shot 22-of-36 (.800) with the Diplomats making 31-of-43 (.721). Three NJCU players fouled out.
Harris, who scored 17 in his Gothic Knight debut on November 18, scored 15 of his 26 in the second half and shot 9-of-17 (2-6 3FG) and 6-of-10 from the line with two blocks in 36 minutes.Wosu, who scored 20 in the season opener in his first game in two years, scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds (10 defensive). He is now 15-of-17 from the field (.882) in his first two games.
NJCU, which was facing the Diplomats in a tournament for the second year in a row, had a brief lead with 5:38 left in the first half and the clubs were tied for the eighth time at 24-24. But F&M used an 8-0 run, including six foul shots, to take the lead for good, 31-24. The Knights drew with four (31-27, 2:37) before F&M finished the half on a 7-2 run and led by nine at the break (38-29).
The Diplomats shot 50 percent in the second half (11-22) and put the game away in the first four minutes of the second half, using a 10-0 run out of the locker room to pull in front by 19, 48-29, with 15:47 to go when Matthew Tate hit the second of two threes on the run; Hunter Eggers hit an earlier three and Cedric Moune converted a pair of layups in between.
In all, the Diplomats put together a 17-2 run over a span of 6:36 at the end of the first and beginning of the second half. The 19-point margin was the largest of the game and the Diplomats led by double figures the rest of the contest.
FULL STORY: http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2015/11/20/201511-20_MBASKETBALL_vs_Franklin_and_Marshall.aspx