JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In the marquee matchup of the night between the only unbeatens left in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings, New Jersey City University continued an incredible start to the season. NJCU senior power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter) had a dominant double-double with career highs of 24 points and 18 rebounds, junior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, NJ/East Side) registered a near quadruple-double, highlighted by 11 assists and the Gothic Knights claimed sole possession of first place in the conference with an 87-73 victory over Ramapo College on December 9 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
NJCU (6-2, 4-0 NJAC) led by 13 at halftime and hit 11 three-pointers while forcing Ramapo (6-3, 3-1 NJAC), which suffered its first NJAC loss, into 20 turnovers—the eighth consecutive game the Knights have coerced 20 or more giveaways.
NJCU, which received a 22-6 spark from its bench, had four players score in double figures, led by Wosu, who continues to enjoy a remarkable comeback season. He produced a double-double before halftime and notched career highs with 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting, 18 rebounds (10 defensive), four assists and two steals in 33 minutes; it was his second straight game with a career scoring high. Wosu recorded his second double-double in a row and fourth of his career and this season while scoring in double figures for a seventh time.
Robinson delivered the most assists by a Gothic Knight since the 2008-09 season, finishing the game with 11 assists, eight points (3-8 FG, 2-4 3FG), eight steals and seven rebounds (six defensive). His eight steals were the most by an NJCU player in two years.
Meanwhile, reigning NJAC Player of the Week Jalen Harris (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park (Md.)) just missed his third 20-point scoring effort in four games, finishing with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a lights-out 5-of-7 from three-point distance. He added nine rebounds (eight defensive) and two blocks.
NJCU, which matched its season high with 87 for the second straight game, also received 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting (two assists, two blocks) from reigning NJAC Rookie of the Week, freshman power forward Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park), who scored in double figures for the third game in a rowan university Freshman small forward James Julius (Linden, NJ/Linden) made his first career start, scoring 12 points (4-8), including 3-of-7 from three-point land, with four assists.
Ramapo, which entered the game leading the NJAC in scoring offense (83.1 per game) while shooting a league-high 47.5 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three-point range, was limited to 39.1 percent from the field (25-64) and 4-of-13 three-point accuracy (.308).