CAMDEN, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's basketball team earned a much-needed victory this evening, Jan. 11, on the road over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Rutgers-Camden. Thanks in part to a team-best 16 points and a game-high-tying nine rebounds from senior co-captain forward Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen), the Gothic Knights bested the Scarlet Raptors, 61-53. After trailing by seven at the conclusion of the first half, NJCU used a big second half to come back for the eight-point win — Jersey City outscored Camden, 36-21, in the latter 20 minutes.

The Gothic Knights (8-7, 3-5 NJAC) and Rutgers-Camden (2-13, 0-8 NJAC) went back and forth for the first 10-plus minutes of the game and NJCU trailed by just one at 13-12 with 9:22 to go until the half. However, a quick 10-0 run for the Raptors put the home team up by a game-high 11 points at 23-12 with 6:34 to go in the first. Thankfully, Jersey City slowly chipped away at that lead and got it down to just four at 29-25 with 1:04 to go until the first buzzer. Rutgers closed out with a three with 26 seconds left to put NJCU down by seven at the half.

The Green and Gold shot 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from the floor in the first half, but turned that around in the second to shoot 45.8 percent (11-of-24) and sank over twice as many free throws (13) in double the chances at the strip in the second half. Defense was key in the second, as well, as the Gothic Knights held the Scarlet Raptors to just 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from the floor after allowing the home team to shoot 12-of-22 (54.6 pct.) in the first half. Jersey City started off the second with three straight buckets for six points to cut the lead to just one at 32-31 with 18:34 to go in regulation — four of those came from Darley, who scored 11 of his 16 in the second half.

Later on, a 8-2 run put the Gothic Knights up by three at 41-38 with 11:44 to go. Darley started it off with a jumper, followed by the same from junior forward Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International), a free throw from freshman big man Branden Moore (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) and a three to close it out from Darley. Rutgers managed to tie it back up at 47-47 with 7:25 to go. Head coach Marc Brown's squad regrouped and then answered with an 8-0 run to take  55-47 lead with just 1:57 to go — four different players scored during this stretch. After the Scarlet Raptors cut it back down to six, Gilbert and senior co-captain guard Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic) hit some clutch free throws to put NJCU out to its largest lead of the game at 59-49 with only 24 seconds remaining before the squad came away with the 61-53 victory.

Highlights:
- The Gothic Knights dominated on the boards, with a 42-27 overall advantage. The offensive glass also belonged to NJCU as the visitors held the 15-3 advantage there.
- That led to a 10-0 advantage for Jersey City in second-chance points.
- Gilbert ended with eight points, while junior forward Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood) had seven points, five boards and a game-high-tying two blocks.
- Moore also had seven points and five boards, while junior center Michael Clement (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) had six points, five boards and a game-high-tying two blocks.
- Sophomore guard Felix Romero (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy Tech) saw a career-best 20 minutes on the floor.
- NJCU at 3-5 in NJAC play is locked in a three-way tie for fifth place and remains squarely in the conversation for tournament contention.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 14, back home at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) as #RV Stockton University comes to town. Tip off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., following the completion of the women's game.