SOURCE: http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2017/2/1/201702-01_MBASKETBALL_vs_Kean.aspx

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | No. 24 ranked New Jersey City University forced 28 turnovers, dominated the offensive boards and pulled away from Kean University in the second half as NJCU knocked off the Cougars 78-60 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on February 1 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court'). The win was the 16th consecutive regular season home court victory for the Gothic Knights.

NJCU improved to 17-4 overall, 9-0 at home and 11-3 in the league and coupled with Rowan's 88-74 upset of TCNJ in Glassboro on Wednesday, the Gothic Knights and Lions are again tied for second place in the conference with four games remaining in the regular season. At stake is a bye into the NJAC semifinals and a home game. NJCU holds the tiebreaker thanks to its win over Ramapo on January 14.
 
NJCU and Kean (1-20, 1-13 NJAC) played a nip and tuck opening 20 minutes and the Knights led by just two at the break (38-36) after the Cougars shot 60 percent from the field (15-25) and 54.5 percent (6-11) from three-point range against the nation's No. 2 ranked three-point percentage defense. Kean did hit an opponent season-high 11 threes in the loss and shoot 45.8 percent (11-24) from deep.
 
The Knights outscored Kean 40-24 in the second half and led by as many as 21. NJCU muscled out to a 16-5 margin in offensive rebounds and owned an 18-4 margin in second chance scoring. NJCU also translated the Kean giveaways into a 30-14 margin in points off turnovers. NJCU's bench outscored the Kean reserves, 39-4. NJCU used an 18-0 run over nine minutes to put the game away.
 
Senior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park (Md.)) produced a game-high 19 points (8-14 FG) with four rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes while graduate student power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter), the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, had a solid all-around effort with 10 points (4-9 FG), six offensive rebounds and six steals in 25 minutes.
 
Meanwhile, junior small forward Kevin Brown (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) came off the bench to knock down three triples (3-5) and scored 12 points (4-6 FG) in 15 minutes. Sophomore center Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park) gave NJCU a nice spark off the bench with eight points, six rebounds (five offensive) and two blocks in 18 minute. Sophomore point guard Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, N.J./Trenton) got the start and racked up five assists and three steals.
 
Sophomore guard Keenan Williams, Jr. (Paulsboro, N.J.) had 18 points and five assists for Kean, knocking down 6-of-10 three-point tries. Sophomore guard Justin Watson (New Rochelle, N.Y.) was 4-of-8 from three-point range and added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists (5-11 FG). Sophomore forward Michael Summerer (East Brunswick, N.J.) chipped in 13 points (6-9 FG), four assists and four rebounds while senior guard Kevin Grek (Hillsborough, N.J.) scored nine points with four assists. The remainder of the team compiled just six points.
 
Kean shot 51.1 percent in defeat but attempted only five foul shots in the game and none in the first half. The Cougars were credited with an assist on 19 of 23 made baskets. NJCU converted 14 more field goals (29-68) and shot 76.9 percent from the line (10-13).  Chinwe Wosu had a career high six steals while scoring in double figures.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
There were four ties and three lead changes in the first half. Quick threes by senior point guard Andrew Tomlin (Newark, N.J./Central) and Harris sparked NJCU to a quick 7-2 lead but Kean kept it close and took a 12-11 lead on a three by Williams. A straight three by Harris gave NJCU back the lead.
 
Later, a turnaround jumper in the lane by Brutus and a Brown corner three pushed the lead to 21-16. A three-point play by sophomore swingman James Julius (Linden, N.J./Linden) made it 24-20. NJCU maintained a 29-26 lead before an alley-oop dunk by Summerer cut it to one (29-28) and a three by Watson tied the game at 31-31 with 3:18 left in the first half. An offensive board and putback by Wosu put NJCU back on top to stay. NJCU led by five until Grek hit Kean's sixth three of the opening half in the final seconds to make it a 38-36 game at the break.
 
NJCU woke up defensively early in the second half. Up 43-40 with 17:31 left, NJCU unleashed an 18-0 run to put the game away. Before Kean scored again with 8:31 to play the Gothic Knights owned a 21-point, 61-40 lead after the nine-minute outburst. Six different players scored for NJCU during the spurt and Kean committed seven turnovers and missed all four shots it took.
 
Wosu, after several strong offensive rebounds on previous possessions, had an anticipation steal and coast-to-coast fast break layup for a 45-40 lead. Julius scored on an offensive board of his own shot (47-40) and Brutus' basket on a third opportunity made it 49-40 with 12:48 left as the Knights began pulling away. Harris scored inside and Brutus grabbed an off balance offensive rebound and drove to the rim for a 53-40 edge. When Julius knocked away a Kean pass, Harris picked up the loose ball and went down court for an easy layup before finishing a three-point play. A triple by Brown gave NJCU the 21-point margin. NJCU led comfortably by double figures the remainder of the game.
 
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS: 
Post-game interview with Chinwe Wosu and Jalen Harris on Facebook live: https://www.facebook.com/NJCUGothicKnights/videos/10154562830224915/
 
OF NOTE:

• 136th known meeting. NJCU leads the series, 99-37 (Streak: NJCU won last six).
• Rankings: NJCU is ranked No. 24 by D3hoops in the January 30/week 9 poll.
• Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 43rd time in 49 career games as a Gothic Knight. He has 109 career three-pointers and 832 points.
• Kevin Brown scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and the first time since November 30.
• Chinwe Wosu scored in double figures for the fourth time this season. It's the 17th such performance in his career—all in the last two seasons.
• Wosu' six steals are a career high; the previous high was five against Ramapo on January 14.
• Senior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, N.J./East Side) did not play.
• Shaquan Worthy's five assists are a career high and two more than his previous best. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
In a game with major playoff implications, NJCU heads to Glassboro, N.J. to face Rowan (13-8, 8-6) on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Esby Gymnasium. Rowan is tied with Montclair State for fourth place in the league. NJCU, also then ranked 24th, won the first meeting of the season in Jersey City on January 9, 89-72. In that win, NJCU held the Profs 17 points beneath their scoring average and outrebounded Rowan by a +21 margin. It will be the 120th known meeting. NJCU leads all-time series, 60-59, and has won the last four meetings. Rowan leads the league in scoring at 87.4 per game.