SOURCE: http://njcugothicknights.com/news/2017/2/8/201702-08_MBASKETBALL_vs_Montclair_State.aspx

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University fended off Montclair State down the stretch by converting all 10 of its foul shots in the final minute as the Gothic Knights improved to 10-0 at home this season with a 78-72 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over the Red Hawks on February 8 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court').
 
After falling out of the national rankings this week for the first time since December, NJCU improved to 18-5 overall and 12-4 in the conference with two games remaining against first place Ramapo (21-2, 14-2 NJAC) and Stockton (13-9, 8-8 NJAC). The win was the 17th consecutive regular season home court victory for the Gothic Knights. NJCU stayed one game behind The College of New Jersey (17-6, 13-3 NJAC) in its quest for a first round bye. While Montclair is still likely to earn either the fifth or sixth seed in the NJAC Tournament, the loss drops the Red Hawks to 8-8 in the league (11-12 overall).
 
NJCU forced 25 Montclair State turnovers, and translated those giveaways into a 25-10 scoring margin. NJCU also shot 82.4 percent from the line, shooting 28-of-34 in the game, including 17-of-20 (.850) in the second half. Montclair shot 62.1 percent (18-29) from the floor in the second half to keep itself close.
 
Four players scored in double figures for NJCU but none had a bigger night than sophomore swingman James Julius (Linden, N.J./Linden) who scored a season-high 14 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor and 4-for-7 from three-point range in 27 minutes, hitting several clutch shots.
 
Senior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park (Md.)) only played four minutes in the first half, scoring two points after getting in early foul trouble, but scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half, including six free throws in a row to seal the win. He was 8-for-8 from the line, 2-of-3 from three-point range and tallied five boards in 23 minutes.
 
Also for NJCU, junior small forward Kevin Brown (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) came off the bench for a big performance, notching an NJCU career-high matching 14 points (5-11 FG. 3-4 FT) with seven rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes. Senior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, N.J./East Side) added 10 points (5-6 FT). Meanwhile, senior power forward Chris Freeman (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic Christian) played 12 key reserve minutes, scoring seven points (3-4 FT) and sophomore shooting guard Joseph Kelley (Newark, N.J./University) chipped in five rebounds, four points and four steals.
 
MSU junior forward Jarrett Bogus (Middlesex, N.J.) collected a game-high 20 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the field and avoided fouling out (four) in 19 minutes.
 
Senior guard Daniel Ramis (Miami, Fla.) came off the bench to score 16 points in 12 minutes, hitting 4-of-7 threes (6-10 FG). Senior forward Brandon Channer (Manchester, Jamaica) had a double-double with 12 points, primarily from the line (8-12 FT) and 10 rebounds (nine defensive).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

 
NJCU jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead behind an NBA range three from Robinson and a strong drive to the rim by Harris, before a turnaround jumper by Julius made it 7-0. MSU closed within 8-6 and both Harris and graduate student power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter), the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, picked up two fouls in the first five minutes. Toney picked up his second foul just six minutes into the game when MSU was already shooting in the bonus. Montclair briefly grabbed a two-point lead and was in the double bonus for the final 10:47 of the first half.
 
Down one (13-12), NJCU took early control with a 9-1 run. A pull-up jumper by Brown tied it (14-14) and when he was left all alone on the left wing, he made MSU pay, draining a three for a 17-14 edge. He blocked the next Red Hawk shot. Four foul shots allowed the lead to reach 21-14. Julius buried a fast break three from the right arc for a 26-19 margin and NJCU picked up its largest lead of the half (32-19) when Robinson poked away a steal and Julius knocked down another triple from the left sideline. NJCU led 35-27 at halftime. NJCU was 11-of-14 from the line in the first half and forced 14 MSU turnovers; Montclair was 12-of-17 from the line. Bogus scored 12 of the 27 for MSU in the period on 5-of-6 shooting but had three fouls at the break and picked up his fourth 80 seconds into the second half. Brown had nine (3-7 FG) and Julius (2-2 3FG) added eight for NJCU.
 
In the second half, MSU drew within five (37-32) but Brown, who earlier had two blocks in a row, had a strong rebound underneath and a putback. MSU again was within five (39-34) on a transition basket by junior guard Vince Anfield (Mount Holly, N.J.). Up 42-34 after a pair of foul shots by Harris, Kelley picked MSU's pocket on the inbounds play and that steal led to a bucket by Brown, his 13th points, and a 44-34 lead.
 
NJCU was leading 51-44 before an MSU charge (fourth foul on Channer). After Ramis hit his third three of the game from the left corner, NJCU answered and with the shot clock winding down and the lead only four, Julius knocked down his third three from the right corner (54-47, 9:22). Julius' fourth triple, in front of his own bench on a kickout from the lane, made it 57-47. Harris followed with a three from the right arc and the lead reached 60-49 with 7:16 left. Sophomore center Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park) scored on an inside pass from Wosu to make it 62-49 and extended the run to 11-2. The lead was still 10 with under five minutes to go.
 
When MSU cut it to eight, Harris drilled another three from the far sideline (65-54, 4:23). MSU hung around and a three-point continuation play by freshman guard Justin Porter (Ewing, N.J.) trimmed it to 65-59. Another Porter basket and a pair of foul shots by Channer made it a one-possession game (66-63) with 2:39 left.
 
Robinson hit a running jumper off the window from the right of the lane (2:13) before Bogus scored inside to answer and keep the deficit three (68-65, 1:55).
 
After an NJCU timeout, Julius missed a three but Montclair turned it over after grabbing the carom (1:21). With possession and a fresh clock, Robinson was fouled from behind in the lane and with 56.1 to go, hit both free throws for a 70-65 lead and his 10th points. Kelley blocked MSU's next layup, Wosu stole the ball after MSU grabbed the rebound and Kelley was fouled with 41.5 left, hitting both foul shots and a 72-65 lead. Harris converted 6-for-6 foul shots in the final 25 seconds to ice it.
 
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS: 
Post-game interview with Kevin Brown and James Julius on Facebook live:
https://www.facebook.com/NJCUGothicKnights/videos/10154582579424915/
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 168th meeting. Montclair leads the series, dating back to the early 1930s, 93-75.
• Rankings: NJCU is ranked fifth in the first NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional rankings released on February 8. NJCU also received 24 points in the week 10 D3hoops.com national poll, equivalent to a No. 29 listing, after being nationally ranked the previous five weeks.
• Kevin Brown scored in double figures for the sixth time this season. He matched his NJCU career high of 14 against Rutgers-Newark on November 22.
• James Julius' netted his eighth career double-digit scoring effort. His previous season high was nine, coming twice in the previous three games.
• Ata Robinson had his seventh double digit scoring effort of the season and 14th in two years at NJCU.
• Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 45th time in 51 career games as a Gothic Knight. He has 112 career three-pointers and 864 points.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
A month after knocking off a then-unbeaten Ramapo College squad, 76-71 in overtime in Jersey City (January 14), NJCU heads to Mahwah, N.J. on Saturday, February 11 at 3 p.m. when it takes on the No. 11 ranked Roadrunners. Ramapo is ranked No. 2 in the first NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional rankings. It will be the 90th meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 66-23.