JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Two-time NJAC Player of the Year and two-time All-American senior power forward Sam Toney became the new all-time leader in three-point field goals in New Jersey City University men's and women's basketball history and he and junior shooting guard Denzel Banks each registered double-doubles, combining for 55-points as the Gothic Knights held off Rowan University, 81-79, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on January 25 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
Toney entered the day tied with former All-American Dana John (209-580, 2005-08) for the all-time lead, but needed just 10 seconds to stand all alone, drilling a triple from the left arc on the first possession of the game.
After a sluggish start to the season, NJCU won its third consecutive game, improving to 9-9 overall and 6-5 in the NJAC—tied with Rutgers-Newark and Montclair State for fourth place in the league standings—one game out of third place and just two games out of first. Rowan, the defending NJAC champions, falls to 8-10 overall (4-7 NJAC)—two games back in the standings. NJCU swept the season series.
Toney generated his 25th career double-double, scoring a season-high 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-12 three-point success, grabbing 12 rebounds in 36 minutes and Banks notched a career-high 28 points and collected his fourth career double-double with 11 rebounds while handing out six assists. Behind the trio, NJCU matched its season high with 12 made three-pointers.
NJCU ked by 11 (70-59) with 7:36 to play and still held a six-point margin (79-73) with 1:15 left before Rowan made it more dramatic in the final minute. After a turnover gave the Profs back the ball with 53 seconds to go down 79-75, senior forward Austin Kearney (Monroeville, N.J.) hit a three from the right corner with 38 seconds left to make it a one-point game before junior power forward Jahmere Calhoun (31.1 seconds) and Banks (14.4) each hit one foul shot sandwiched around a missed Rowan three and Toney grabbed a defensive rebound to seal the game when senior guard Jerry Price (Philadelphia, Pa.) intentionally missed the second of two free throws with 2.9 seconds left.
Calhoun finished with 11 points (5-10 FG) with six rebounds. NJCU had a 19-6 margin in offensive rebounds and owned a 20-6 margin in second-chance scoring.
Rowan lost despite committing just eight turnovers. It had 20 more free-throw chances than NJCU, shooting 34. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Price with 25 points (6-14 FG, 12-15 FT)
Kearney, sophomore guard Ryan O'Leary (South Amboy, N.J.) and senior forward Diante Bah (Mount Holly, N.J.) each scored 12 points; Bah (5-8 FG) added nine rebounds and five blocked shots. Senior guard Maliq Sanders (Sicklerville, N.J.) finished with 10 points.
NJCU jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead behind three three-pointers from Toney in the first 2:48 of the game. NJCU still led 22-14 before Rowan produced a 12-2 run, claiming its only lead of the game at 26-24 with 8:08 remaining. Banks quickly answered with a jumper to tie it and a three-pointer with 7:13 to go in front to stay. A layup by Price brought the Profs within 37-36 with 1:18 to go in the half before Toney scored inside then drilled another three with nine seconds left in the half; NJCU led 43-38 at the break.
NJCU opened the second half the way it started the first—with Toney burying two threes in the first minute and senior small forward Jaimik Moore adding a triple for a 52-42 lead. NJCU worked the margin to 11 points four times, including 70-59, leading to the late comeback bid for Rowan.
NOTABLES:
- Series: 127th known meeting. With the victory, NJCU leads the all-time series. 64-63. NJCU also won the first meeting on December 7 in Glassboro, N.J., 94-91.
- Sam Toney is in fifth place in school history in scoring with 1,630 points. He is 76 points shy of matching Hall-of-Famer Steve Wilder who scored 1,706 points from 1982-86.
- Toney has an NJCU record 216 career three pointers.
- Toney scored in double figures for the 81st time in 102 career games.
- Toney scored at least 20 points in a game for the 33rd time in his career and fifth time this season.
- Toney produced his 25th career double-double and second of the season.
- Toney reached double figures in rebounds for the 26th time in his career.
- Toney had his highest scoring total since netting 31 at Stockton on February 2, 2019.
- Denzel Banks scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and for the 26th time in 46 career games. He notched his fourth double-double since transferring to NJCU last year and his second this season, both coming in the last three games. It was also his fourth career double-digit rebounding effort.
- Banks scored 20+ points for the sixth time this season and the 10th time in his career. His previous season high was 25 on November 23, 2019 at Farmingdale State; his previous career best was 26 against Montclair State on January 30, 2019.
- Jahmere Calhoun scored in double figures for the third game in a row and the fifth time this season.
UP NEXT:
- NJCU heads to Wayne, N.J. to meet William Paterson University for the second time this season on Wednesday, January 29. WPU won the first meeting on December 4, 89-71, hitting 19 three-pointers—the most by an opponent against NJCU on record in school history.
GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on #NJCUMBB, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. We Are Jersey City's Team.
—www.NJCUGothicKnights.com | #JerseyCitysTeam—