CAMDEN, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University trailed at halftime before hitting the accelerator in the second half to run past Rutgers University-Camden, 92-70, in New Jersey Athletic Conference men's basketball action on February 15 at the Rutgers-Camden Recreation Center. NJCU outscored the Scarlet Raptors 51-28 in the second half.
NJCU (12-12, 9-8 NJAC) and Rowan (13-11, 9-8 NJAC) are one game in front of Montclair State (10-14, 8-9 NJAC) for the final two NJAC Tournament berths with one game remaining in the regular season, after Rowan rallied past Rutgers-Newark, 63-59, and Stockton nipped MSU, 89-87.
The season comes down to Wednesday, February 19. If NJCU can defeat third-place Ramapo College at home, the Gothic Knights clinch a playoff berth. If NJCU loses and Montclair State loses to Rutgers-Camden or Rowan loses to Kean, the Knights will also clinch. However, if Rowan wins and NJCU and Montclair both lose, the final NJAC Tournament berth will come down to a multitude of tiebreakers that cannot yet be determined.
Leading 66-62 with 10:30 left after the Raptors hit a three, NJCU's defense suffocated the Raptors from there—not allowing another field goal the rest of the game. The Gothic Knights outscored Camden 26-8 the rest of the contest and the Raptors missed their final seven shots of the game, turned the ball over seven times during the 10-minute-plus span, and only scored from the line (8-13) the rest of the way.
NJCU had by far its best shooting performance of the season—57.4 percent—shooting 35-of-61, and the Gothic Knights were equally efficient in both halves. NJCU shot 57.1 percent in the first half (16-28) and 57.6 percent in the second half (19-33).
Four players scored in double figures for NJCU led by two-time NJAC Player of the Year and two-time All-American senior power forward Sam Toney who scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-8 three-point prowess, adding nine rebounds (eight defensive). Junior shooting guard Denzel Banks poured in 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Also for NJCU, senior small forward Jaimik Moore notched 18 points (7-12 FG) and four assists and junior power forward Jahmere Calhoun produced a double-double with 11 points (4-7 FG), a game-best 12 rebounds and four steals. Senior guard Jeff Haddock, Jr. collected eight points, knocking down 2-of-4 three-point attempts.
Camden's points came primarily from three players and its starters accounted for 69 of its 70 points. Junior guard Arian Azemi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game-high 31 points on 10-of-21 shooting with five threes (5-10 3FG), six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior forward Isaac Destin (Woodlynne, N.J.) added a double-double with 23 points (8-12 FG), 11 rebounds and four assists. Sophomore forward Jake Petrik (Gloucester City, N.J.) finished with 12 points, shooting 4-of-8 from three-point distance, including the final field goal of the game with 10:30 remaining.
Rutgers-Camden (7-17, 4-13 NJAC) managed to lead by one at halftime (42-41) and by as many as six points midway through the first half before the Knights used a 10-0 run in the first two minutes of the second half to turn a 44-41 deficit into a 51-44 advantage.
Camden would later tie the game at 57-57 but could never regain the lead and NJCU's defense stifled the Raptors. Leading by five (68-63), Toney drilled a three with 9:24 remaining and Banks scored on the fast break off a steal from junior point guard Tarique Holmes to push the lead into double figures (73-63). Toney had an offensive rebound and layup with 7:52 to go after Camden sank three foul shots. Toney's jumper with 6:06 to go made it 78-66 and a steal and layup by Calhoun extended the margin to 80-66 as NJCU pulled away. Haddock buried a three with 3:56 left for an 85-69 advantage before the Knights closed out the 22-point win.
NOTABLES:
- Series: 72nd meeting in a series NJCU has dominated, 67-5. NJCU has won 29 of the last 30 meetings and 57 of the last 59 matchups.
- Prior to the game NJCU had shot 50 percent or better only twice this season, and its season high was 34-of-67 (50.7 percent) against Kean on January 22.
- Sam Toney is in fourth place in school history in scoring with 1,734 points.
- Toney has an NJCU record 227 career three pointers.
- Toney scored in double figures for the 87th time in 108 career games.
- Toney scored at least 20 points in a game for the 35th time in his career and seventh time this season.
- Jaimik Moore scored in double figures for the 13th time in 18 games and had 20+ points for the third time. It was his second effort of 10+ rebounds.
- Denzel Banks scored in double figures for the 16th time this season and for the 30th time in 52 career games.
- Banks scored 20+ points for the seventh time this season and the 11th time in his career.
- Jahmere Calhoun scored in double figures for the ninth time this year. He notched his third double-double of the season and tied his NJCU career high with 12 rebounds.
UP NEXT:
- NJCU plays its final regular season game, and if it loses, perhaps its final game of the 2019-20 season on Wednesday, February 19 at 8 p.m. when it hosts Ramapo at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). It will be Senior Day and prior to the game, NJCU will honor Haddock, Moore and one of the greatest players in school history, Sam Toney.
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