CAMDEN, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | No. 22 ranked New Jersey City University trailed by 15 at halftime before limiting Rutgers University-Camden to just 6-of-23 shooting in the second half when the Gothic Knights outscored the Scarlet Raptors, 41-19, as NJCU claimed its 15th win of the year, 70-63, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on January 21.
 
NJCU, ranked 22nd in Division III by D3hoops.com, committed just three second half turnovers and only eight in the game to improve to 15-3 overall and 9-2 in the NJAC. After Rutgers-Camden (3-13, 1-10 NJAC) shot 66.7 percent in the first 20 minutes on 16-of-24, including 6-of-10 three-point success, the Raptors were 0-for-9 from long range in the second half. The Knights were 15-of-19 (.789) from the line in the second half.
 
Senior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park (Md.)) lit up the scoresheet, scoring a season-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, hitting 5-of-8 three-point prowess, including the 100th three of his career, in 36 minutes. It was the fourth highest total of his career.
 
Freshman power forward Sam Toney (Somerdale, N.J./Williamstown), the five-time NJAC Rookie of the Week, had 11 points (3-7 FG), including 4-of-4 from the line, adding eight rebounds and two steals in 23 minutes. Senior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, N.J./East Side) added eight points (2-6 FG, 4-4 FT) and five assists.
 
Sophomore point guard Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, N.J./Trenton) shot 7-of-8 from the foul line in 13 minutes. Graduate student power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) had seven points and six offensive rebounds.
 
Camden's Isaac Destin led the Raptors with 22 points (9-14 FG). Sean Taylor finished with 10 points (3-5 3FG) and four assists before fouling out. Shafeek Taylor contributed 10 rebounds and eight points. Elijah Robles chipped in nine points and five assists and Marcus Taylor also had five assists. Camden was credited with an assist on 16 of its 22 made baskets.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
NJCU led by as many as seven points (19-12) with 12:49 to go in the first half on a Robinson jumper. After a hot-shooting Raptors squad eventually grabbed the lead and worked it to six (27-21), NJCU quickly rebounded when Harris drilled two threes in a span of 28 seconds, tying the game at 27-27 with 6:01 to go in the half.
 
From there, Camden unleashed a 17-2 run to close the opening half. Up four, a three by Marcus Taylor made it a 34-27 lead before he connected on another three with nine seconds to play to push the home advantage to 44-29 at the break.
 
Harris near single-handedly got NJCU back in the contest, scoring nine of 11 for the Knights during an 11-2 spurt. After he twice hit three-point plays at the 18:57 and 16:23 marks, he drilled a three with 15:52 left to cut it to 46-40. RUC answered and elevated the lead back to 12 when Shafeek Taylor scored (54-42) with 12:41 to go. A layup by Dior Johnson with 8:10 left maintained a 57-49, eight-point cushion.
 
An 8-0 streak for NJCU tied it at 57-57 with 4:57 to go on a tip-in by Toney following consecutive baskets by Wosu. Twice the Raptors, shooting 7-of-8 from the line, regained two-point leads with foul shots. Each time NJCU countered, including 61-61 with 2:35 left on a Harris basket.
 
Toney had a big steal from Shafeek Taylor with 2:08 left, leading to a Robinson layup with 1:46 remaining to put NJCU in front for the first time since the 9:05 mark of the first half. When Camden missed its next shot, the Knights rebounded, burned nearly the entire ensuing shot clock, and when Worthy was fouled, he pushed the margin to four (65-61) with a pair from the line with 59 seconds to play. Harris stole the next possession, forcing Camden to foul. Worthy made the second of two shots. Robles made it a one-possession game (66-63) with 28 seconds to go but couldn't draw any closer as Robinson (0:19) and Worthy (0:05) sealed it from the stripe.
 
OF NOTE:

• 66th meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 61-5, and has won 23 of the last 24 meetings and 51 of the last 53.
• Rankings: NJCU is ranked No. 22 by D3hoops in the January 16/week 7 poll. It's the highest ranking in the poll in program history.
• Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 40th time in 46 career games as a Gothic Knight. He has 102 career three-pointers.
• Jalen Harris scored 20 or more points for the seventh time this season and the 17th time in two seasons at NJCU.
• Sam Toney scored in double figures for the 11th time this season.
• NJCU trailed by 15 at halftime; its previous high deficit was nine (23-14) at Montclair State on January 4.
• NJCU's eight turnovers are the second fewest of the year; it committed just seven against Spalding (Ky.) on November 19.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU is back home at the  John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court') on Wednesday, January 25 (8 p.m.) when it hosts William Paterson University (9-9, 5-6 NJAC, Won 1). NJCU defeated the Pioneers on November 30 in Wayne, 71-69, in overtime. It will be the 149th known meeting. NJCU leads the series, 79-69 (Streak: won last three). Fans are encouraged to wear green to the game for a Green Out atmosphere.

SOURCE: http://njcugothicknights.com/news/2017/1/22/201701-21_MBASKETBALL_at_Rutgers-Camden.aspx