JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior power forward and First-Team All-American Sam Toney scored 12 points, including 10 in a row during a decisive 20-0 run late in the second half after Mount Saint Vincent had tied the game and the New Jersey City University men's basketball team rolled past the Dolphins, 81-62, in non-conference action on November 19 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).

Toney finished with a game-high 20 points as NJCU (1-1) won its first game of the season, turning a game that was tied with 8:50 remaining into a rout, as the Gothic Knights outscored Mount Saint Vincent (0-3), 24-5 to end the game.

NJCU's pressure forced 20 CMSV turnovers and as a result, the Knights held a decisive 26-5 margin in points off giveaways while outscoring the visitors 36-8 in the paint and 15-2 on second chances, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

NJCU shot 53.3 percent in the second half (16-30) and limited the Dolphins to just 26.9 percent in the period (7-26) and 32.7 percent for the night (16-49).

Toney shot 7-of-12 overall (3-8 3FG) with five rebounds and two big steals while junior shooting guard Denzel Banks had one of the highest +/-  ratios you'll ever see — +37 —finishing with 15 points (6-11 FG), nine rebounds and five assists.

Senior small forward Jaimik Moore contributed 14 points (5-12 FG) and three assists and senior shooting guard Jeff Haddock, Jr. came off the bench to contribute 11 points.

Junior power forward Jahmere Calhoun was an enormous spark plug. With NJCU leading 61-57, the entire atmosphere changed in the arena with 7:00 left as Jaimik Moore fed Calhoun to the left of the basket for a rim-shaking dunk and a 63-57 lead. He capped the 20-0 run with an alley-oop throw-down from junior point guard Adonius Melvins, Jr. that sent the building into a frenzy. He ended with eight points (4-7 FG). Senior center Quadri Moore chipped in seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.

Mount hit eight threes in the game—half of its total made field goals—and didn't have an answer for NJCU's size inside. Senior guard Raiquis Harris (Albany, N.Y.) had a team-high 17 points (5-13 FG, 3-6 3FG) while junior guard Makai Johnson (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) had 10 points, mostly from the line (8-10 FG).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Toney scored NJCU's first five points as the Knights grabbed a 5-0 lead; he grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a fall-away jumper before bagging an NBA range three from the left side. A Banks jumper made it 7-3 and his left wing drive to the hoop pushed the lead to 10-3, forcing CMSV into a timeout.
• A triple by Quadri Moore extended the lead to 13-3. Back-to-back threes by undersized junior center Vinny Tavella (Staten Island, N.Y.) trimmed the deficit it 13-9.
• CMSV kept it close, pulling within two (18-16) when Harris drilled a three then later hit a pair of foul shots.
• Quadri Moore's second three of the game (9:39) made it 21-16. A knockdown jumper from the left side by Banks extended it to 25-18.
• A left-sideline three by sophomore guard Dorian Robinson (Chicago, Ill.). cut the NJCU lead to 27-25 before Banks responded with an offensive rebound and a putback high off the window, later converting a three-point play for a 30-25 lead (5:32). Banks drilled a three from the left corner for a 33-25 edge (5:18). Thomson hit a tough shot against two defenders with 1:09 to go (39-25) before a nice spin move inside by freshman power forward Daeshawn Emanuel made it 41-35. NJCU led 41-37 at the half.
• The lead was just three (17:14) after Jaimik Moore hit a fast-break layup off a rebound but Harris answered with a layup.
• Banks (15th point) hit a wide-open layup underneath off a feed from Holmes (48-43) and a jumper by Calhoun made it 50-43. An offensive rebound in the lane by Toney and a perfect dish under the rim to Jaimik Moore made the lead 52-44.
• NJCU continued to struggle to defend the perimeter for the second game in a row and CMSV hung around with threes from Harris (13:38, 15th point) and Robinson (13:06) cutting the NJCU lead to two. With 12:20 left, Harris tied it with two foul shots, 52-52.
• Out of a Mount timeout, Haddock buried a three from the near left corner (55-52) and Banks found Calhoun for a mid-range jumper (57-52). Mount tied it again at 57-57 on a jumper with 8:50 remaining by senior center Mamadou Mariko (Harlem, N.Y.)
• With 8:03 left the run to victory began. After a layup by Jaimik Moore, Toney drove the right wing to the hoop for two (61-57).
• But the entire atmosphere changed with 7:00 left as Jaimik Moore fed Calhoun to the left of the basket for a rim-shaking dunk and a 63-57 lead. 
• After a timeout, on the ensuing inbounds NJCU picked off back-to-back steals. Toney picked one off on the near sideline and went to the rim for two. Moments later, Banks steal on the inbounds and subsequent feed of Toney on the left wing for a three (13th point) extended the lead to 68-57 and the run to double digits.
• Toney followed with a right-side three to push the lead to 71-57 and stole the ensuing inbounds before taking it to the rim for two more—his 18th point—and a 73-57 lead with 5:16 to go.  
• With 4:07 left Calhoun's Sportscenter #SCTop10-worthy alley-oop slam off a feed from Adonius Melvins, Jr. pushed the lead to 20 (77-57) and the gym exploded to cap the 20-0 run. NJCU was never challenged again.

 NOTABLES:

• Series: Second meeting. NJCU leads, 2-0. First meeting since December 22, 2000 in Jersey City. NJCU won, 79-48.
• NJCU was ranked No. 17 in the DIII News Preseason Poll and received votes from D3hoops.com.
• Sam Toney upped his career scoring totals to 1,399 points. He needs 59 more points to pass Hall-of-Famer and assistant coach Abdul Madison (1,457 points, 1993-97) for the Top 10 in school history.

UP NEXT:

• On Saturday, November 23, NJCU plays its first road game of the regular season when it meets reigning Skyline Conference champion Farmingdale State at 2 p.m. in Farmingdale, N.Y.

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