FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior shooting guard Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus) knocked down four free throws in the final 20 seconds of a close contest to secure a 66-61 non-conference victory for the New Jersey City University men's basketball team over host and defending Skyline Conference champion Farmingdale State College on November 23.
NJCU improves to 2-1 on the season and wins despite shooting just 31.3 percent from the field (21-67), 31.6 percent from three-point range (6-of-19) and being outrebounded, 49-34, thanks to its pressure, which forced 31 Farmingdale turnovers. NJCU had 20 steals in the game.
The Gothic Knight free throw shooting ultimately was the difference as NJCU went 18-of-21 from the line (85.7 percent), led by Banks who was a perfect 10-for-10 and was one point shy of a career high, netting a team-leading 25 points. Senior forward Hunter Schenkel (Sayville, N.Y.) scored a game-high 26 to leads the Rams (2-3).
NJCU led at halftime by one (30-29) and only trailed for 13 seconds in the second half, opening as much as an eight-point lead (49-41) with 10:04 to play. NJCU still led by seven with 7:45 remaining (53-46) and by six (55-49) on a jumper by Banks with 5:15 left. Farmingdale did not go away and tied it and took the lead (57-56) on two free throws by sophomore forward De'Shawn Todman (Harlem, N.Y.) with 2:38 to play.
Banks put NJCU back on top with 2:25 to go with two free throws. The game went into a lengthy delay with 2:15 left after a scary injury by the Gothic Knights.
When the game resumed, Schenkel tied it again with 2:12 with the front end of two foul shots (58-58), missing the second. After NJCU couldn't convert on two offensive possessions, sophomore guard Kayton Darley (West New York, NJ/North Bergen) got a huge steal with 1:28 to play and fed Banks for a fast-break layup to give NJCU back the lead for good (60-58, 1:23).
After another turnover, senior power forward and First-Team All-American Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) delivered a pass to junior power forward Jahmere Calhoun (Manchester, NJ/Brick Memorial) who buried a jumper with 50 seconds left to push the lead to four (62-58). Schenkel nailed a three with 21 seconds left to cut the NJCU lead to one, (62-61) before Banks followed with two from the line with 17.4 to go. After FSC missed a potential tying three from the right wing with seven seconds left, Banks grabbed the rebound and iced the win from the stripe.
Banks' 25 points (7-18 FG) effort was complimented by a team-high six rebounds and Toney produced 13 points, five rebounds, five steals and two blocks, sinking 5-of-5 from the line. Senior center Quadri Moore (Linden, NJ/Linden) added eight points (3-7 FG), five rebounds and two blocks. Eight other NJCU players scored but none more than four points.
FSC was limited to 36.0 percent shooting (18-50) and 7-of-19 from deep (.368) and was far less successful from the line (18-26, 69.2 percent). Schenkel was the lone player in double figures, shooting 8-of-17 and a lethal 6-of-12 from three-point distance with six rebounds, three steals and two blocks, before fouling out in the final seconds. He was one of three FSC players with five or more turnovers. Todman had nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks and senior forward Jermaine Fraser (Valley Stream, N.Y.) finished with nine points and seven boards.
NJCU led 7-2 early in the first half but the Rams utilized a 20-3 run over a span of 8:18 to claim a 22-10 advantage. NJCU was held without a field goal for a stretch of 7:35 to take the lead. The Knights countered with a 14-2 run and tied the game with 4:44 to go in the first half on a triple by rookie forward Jason Garcia (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson). Banks scored six during the run and Moore hit a three during the stretch. NJCU would push the lead to 30-26 with 1:58 left in the half and the run to 20-4 over a stretch of 9:29 until Schenkel hit a three in the final seconds of the half.
NOTABLES:
- Series: 13th meeting. NJCU leads all-time, 11-2.
- NJCU was ranked No. 17 in the DIII News Preseason Poll and received votes from D3hoops.com.
- Banks scored in double figures for the 16th time in 31 career games and netted his fifth 20-point effort in 31 career games. His career high is 26 points vs. Montclair State on January 30, 2019.
- Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) upped his career scoring totals to 1,412 points. He needs 46 more points to pass Hall-of-Famer and assistant coach Abdul Madison (1,457 points, 1993-97) for the Top 10 in school history. Toney scored in double figures for the 67th time in 87 career games.
UP NEXT:
- NJCU opens New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, November 26 (8:00 PM) when it hosts Kean University at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). The Knights are the leads preseason No. 1 team. The Cougars are 1-3. It will be the 141st known meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 103-37, and has won the last 10 meetings.
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