JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University men's basketball team played a very different style of basketball in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, but the result was the same—another home court victory. No. 3 seeded NJCU had by far its highest scoring effort of the season, pulling away from Stockton University after the sixth-seeded and three-time defending conference champion Ospreys put up a second half challenge in a rare offensive battle, as the Gothic Knights advanced to the NJAC Semifinals for the third year in a row, winning 97-87, on February 18.
The victory in the NJAC Quarterfinals was the second in four days for NJCU over Stockton after the clubs closed the regular season on the same court on Wednesday night. NJCU improves to 20-6 overall, winning 20 or more games for the 16th time in the 84-year history of the program and after going 21-8 last year, notched consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time since then Jersey City State College won 22, 24 and 25 games in a three-year stretch from 1987-90.
Meanwhile, the Gothic Knights improve to 12-0 at home this season at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court') and advance to the NJAC Semifinals for the third year in a row. The win sets up an NJAC Semifinal rematch with The College of New Jersey (18-7, 14-4) on Tuesday, February 21 (7 p.m.) at Packer Hall in Ewing. Last year, TCNJ upset NJCU, the top seed, in the semifinals in Jersey City.
Stockton, which likely will still qualify for the newly expanded Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, sees its run as the league's champion snapped. The Ospreys fell to 14-11 with the loss. It was NJCU's second 10-point win over the Ospreys in four days, winning 73-63 on February 15.
On a day where NJCU scored the most points in an NJAC Tournament game in its history, all five starters netted double figures for the Gothic Knights for the first time this season, combining to score 79 of NJCU's 97 points. It was the program's highest scoring total since late in the 2015-16 season and the most against a conference opponent in more than two years.
The Knights led by 13 points (57-44) with 14:59 left in the second half before Stockton chipped away and evened it at 76-76 with 6:28 to play. NJCU immediately answered as freshman power forward Sam Toney (Somerdale, N.J./Williamstown) drained the only two three-pointers he attempted all game, burying shots with 6:14 and 5:15 remaining and the Ospreys never came closer than six in the final minutes.
Toney, a 6-time NJAC Rookie of the Week selection, made a case for his seventh, chalking up a career-high 24 points, including 16 in the second half. He shot 10-for-16 from the field in 30 minutes.
NJCU needed his scoring because Stockton sophomore guard Brandon Hamilton (Camden, N.J./Paulsboro), who did not score at all in 22 minutes (0-3 FG) on Wednesday night, came out of nowhere to score a game-high 34 points on 12-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-7 three-point tries. He was also 5-of-5 from the line and had three assists in 36 minutes. He scored 20 in the first half.
After scoring a career-high 31 on Wednesday night, senior shooting guard Jalen Harris (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park (Md.)) had another good game, hitting for 16 points (5-11 FG, 5-6 FT) with three assists and senior point guard Ata Robinson (Newark, N.J./East Side) chalked up 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting (2-5 3FG) and three assists in 21 minutes, playing with foul trouble.
NJCU sophomore swingman James Julius (Linden, N.J./Linden) had his first career double-double, generating 13 points (4-10 FG) and 10 rebounds (eight defensive) with three assists. Graduate student power forward Chinwe Wosu (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) hit 4-of-5 shots, finishing with 11 points and seven boards before fouling out. Senior point guard Andrew Tomlin (Newark, N.J./Central) added nine points in 13 reserve minutes.
Stockton's only other player in double figures was sophomore guard Kashaun Barnes (Toms River, N.J./Manchester Township) with 18 points (6-14 FG, 5-6 FT), seven rebounds and five assists. He also scored 18 in the mid-week loss. Three players fouled out for Stockton.
Both teams shot the lights out in the second half—59.4 percent for NJCU (19-32) and 57.6 percent for Stockton (19-33) and that ultimately pushed both teams' field goal percentages over 50 percent for the game; NJCU made 53.1 percent (34-64). Stockton was at 50.8 percent for the game and converted 90 percent of its foul shots (18-20).
Chinwe Wosu driving to the rim in NJCU's 10-point win over Stockton in the NJAC Quarterfinals. It was the most NJCU ever scored in an NJAC Tournament game.
(Photo Credit: NJCU Professor Rob Romeo)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stockton led for a portion of the first half, opening up margins of up to seven points, including 20-13 with 11:06 to go. The lead was still seven when Hamilton, who scored only 82 points as a freshman, and no more than 22 in any game this year, had a putback for a 23-16 lead with 8:44 on the clock. He scored 20 of Stockton's first 29 points. The Ospreys hit 7-of-10 shots to open the game.
NJCU answered with an 8-0 run as a Wosu tip in followed by threes by Julius and Tomlin in a span of 14 seconds gave the hosts back the lead. Hamilton twice gave Stockton back one-point leads—the final with 4:15 to go in the half on a three—before Wosu hit two foul shots with 3:51 left in the opening half and the Knights never trailed again. A three-point play by Tomlin with 1.0 showing on the clock put NJCU in front by six, 41-35, at the break.
A Harris three to open the second half pushed the margin to nine before Stockton used two dunks to draw within three. The Knights responded with a Julius triple and a three-point play by Robinson and the cushion was 10, 51-41, with 16:45 remaining. Toney's offensive carom and follow increased the lead to 13 (57-44). Stockton got back in it with a 24-12 run over the next 6:53. Hamilton, who had a three-point play to cut the deficit to single digits, added a three with 11:49 to go and the clubs traded threes when Barnes, Robinson, and Hamilton each hitting bombs in a span of 28 seconds. The lead was just one (71-70). NJCU worked the lead back up to six (76-70) with 7:52 remaining before a steal and three-point play in transition for Barnes tied the game (76-76, 6:28) for the first time since 29-29 with 3:51 to go in the first half.
That's when Toney rose up, hitting two threes to put NJCU back on top. A jumper by Harris, and 3-of-4 foul shots by sophomore center Yuri Brutus (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park) made the lead eight (89-81) with 2:24 to play. When Stockton missed a three with 59 seconds left, Wosu grabbed the rebound and sent a long pass to Harris. He could not convert the fast break chance but Wosu was in the right place at the right time, trailing the play and tipping in the second chance to extend the margin to nine (94-85) with 48 seconds left, effectively sealing it.
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS:
Post-game interview with Sam Toney and Chinwe Wosu on Facebook live: https://www.facebook.com/NJCUGothicKnights/videos/10154613118074915/
Post-game interview with head coach Marc Brown on Facebook live: https://www.facebook.com/NJCUGothicKnights/videos/10154613155759915/
OF NOTE:
- Series: 82nd meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 47-35.
- NJCU's all-time record when scoring 90+ points improved to 230-16 (.935).
- Rankings: NJCU is ranked fourth in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional rankings released on February 15—up one spot from week one's poll. NJCU also received 18 points in the week 11 D3hoops.com national poll, equivalent to a No. 27 listing. NJCU has received points or been nationally ranked every week this season.
- Sam Toney's 24 points eclipsed his previous high of 21 at Rowan on February 4. It was his third 20-point scoring effort this season.
- Toney scored in double figures for the 16th time in 26 games.
- Jalen Harris scored in double figures for the 48th time in 54 career games as a Gothic Knight. He has 122 career three-pointers and 935 points.
- Harris now has scored 1,039 total points as a collegiate basketball player—919 at NJCU, 42 in 11 games at Albright (2014-15) and 62 in 23 games at Nyack (2013-14).
- James Julius netted his 10th career double-digit scoring effort and third of the season—all in the last four games. It was his second career double digit rebounding effort, matching the 10 boards he had in the 2016 ECAC Finals vs. Ithaca on March 6, 2016.
- Ata Robinson had his eighth double digit scoring effort of the season and 15th in two years at NJCU.
- Chinwe Wosu scored in double figures for the fifth time this season. It's the 18th such performance in his career—all in the last two seasons.
- The 97 points were the most for NJCU since it produced 97 in a win over Valley Forge on February 8, 2016.
- NJCU's previous season high was 89 vs. Rowan on January 9, 2017.
- The 97 points were the most ever scored in an NJAC Tournament game. Its previous high was 96 in a 102-96 loss double overtime loss in the NJAC Semifinals to eventual national champion Rowan on February 22, 1996.
- The 97 points are the most against an NJAC opponent since scoring 100 against Kean on January 24, 2015. It was the most at home against an NJAC opponent since losing to Rutgers-Newark, 118-116, in triple overtime on December 1, 2010.
- NJCU, making its 30th appearance in the NJAC Tournament since 1977-78 improved to 21-22 all-time in the tournament in 43 games and 17-10 at home.
- It was the sixth meeting between NJCU and Stockton in the conference tournament and the third in Jersey City. The all-time NJAC Tournament series is even, 3-3.
- It was the first NJAC Tournament meeting between the schools in Jersey City since an 80-67 win for then Jersey City State over Stockton State College in the NJAC semifinals on February 27, 1992.
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU and TCNJ meet in the NJAC semifinals for the second year in a row on Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. at Packer Hall and third consecutive season in the NJAC Tournament. TCNJ is 12-0 at home this year. Each team won on its home court this season. The Knights prevailed 54-52 in Jersey City on December 10; the Lions countered with a 75-69 win in Ewing on January 28. In that second meeting the schools were tied at 67-67 with 2:54 to play before TCNJ's Eric Murdock, Jr. scored the next six points. There were 10 ties and 10 lead changes in the back-and-forth affair in which neither side led by more than six.
It will be the 141st known meeting. NJCU leads the series during the NJAC era (since 1955-56), 75-45. Including last season, the schools have played eight times in the NJAC Tournament and NJCU is 5-3 against the Lions. NJCU defeated TCNJ in Ewing in the NJAC Quarterfinals on February 21, 2015 (74-60) before the Lions upset NJCU in Jersey City last year, 92-82. NJCU is 2-1 all-time against TCNJ in Ewing in the NJAC Tournament, winning the last two matchups (77-69, February 22, 1995).
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, students and senior citizens.