NJCU OPENS SEASON 4-0 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1991-92
The 1500th men’s basketball game on record in New Jersey City University history had a familiar result, as the Gothic Knights won for the seventh consecutive game and the 13th time in its last 14 outings, knocking off John Jay College, 81-70, in a non-conference game Monday night at the Dog House.
The Gothic Knights (4-0) remain unbeaten to begin the season. In the 74-year history of the program, it is the 12th time NJCU has opened a season 4-0, and the first time since the 1991-92 campaign—the last year NJCU advanced to the Final Four. John Jay falls to 1-5. NJCU leads the all-time series 10-0.
NJCU had four players reach double figures, led by junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside), who notched a career-high 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, with six rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain) scored 14 points (5-12 FG) including two threes, while adding six rebounds and six steals.
Sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) collected 13 points, five assists, and four steals, while senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) tallied 10 points (4-5 FG), seven rebounds, and five assists. Senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) chipped in eight points, five boards and four assists. Freshman forward DIVINE LYLES (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Regional) had seven points in 13 minutes.
The Bloodhounds received a game-high 17 points from junior forward Alex Valerio (Flushing, NY/Francis Lewis), who converted 9-of-13 free throws. Freshman guard Matt Collins (Glendale, NY/Christ the King) and senior guard Kelvin Luna (Corona, NY/Flushing) each had 14 points and five rebounds. Collins made 3-of-9 threes and had three steals, while Luna chipped in two blocks on 6-of-10 shooting. Senior guard Dustin Yeates (Brooklyn, NY/South Side) provided 12 points (5-of-11 FG), but committed 11 of JJC’s 29 turnovers.
NJCU shot 79.3 percent from the free-throw line (23-29) and 42.6 percent from the field (26-61). JJC shot 46.3 percent (25-54). While the two clubs combined for 55 turnovers, NJCU was able to convert their 15 steals into a 22-8 margin in fast-break scoring. NJCU also had a 20-8 cushion in bench scoring.
In a first half in which there were nine lead changes and two ties, the Knights finally moved in front to stay in the closing moments of the first half.
Trailing 29-22 with 4:47 remaining, a 13-2 run put the Knights in front 35-31. An offensive rebound and tip-in by Hill at 1:53 gave NJCU the lead for good, and a lay-up by Hill off a Williams assist made, it 35-31. Hill and Williams had six and five points, respectively, during the spurt.
A key play came with one second remaining in the half. Lyles inbounded the ball from the sideline, three-quarters downcourt. His long pass upcourt found Williams wide open under the basket and beat the clock for a 40-34 half-time margin.
NJCU never trailed in the second half, and the Bloodhounds were not able to get closer than three points the remainder of the game. Leading 40-37, a steal and fast-break bucket by John, later followed by a John trey, gave NJCU its first 10-point lead, 49-39. A Luna three cut NJCU’s advantage to six, 68-62, with 3:10 remaining, before two consecutive lay-ups by Tucker again increased the lead to 10, as the Knights prevailed. NJCU led by 11 points at three instances of the game.
In a serious early-season test for the Knights, NJCU will visit No. 11 ranked Lincoln University in Lincoln University, PA, on Wednesday, November 29 at 7 p.m. NJCU leads the all-time series, 7-0.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score New Jersey City University vs John Jay College 11/27/06 7 pm at New York, NY (Dog House) At New York, NY (Dog House) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 81, JOHN JAY COLLEGE 70 NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (4-0) Marques Hill 7-12 2-2 16; Dana John 5-12 2-3 14; Kevin Tucker 4-15 4-5 13; Abraham Williams 4-5 2-3 10; Alex Mirabel 2-5 4-4 8; Divine Lyles 1-1 4-6 7; Dashan Martin 1-4 1-2 4; Aaron Desir 0-0 4-4 4; Josh Lopez 1-1 0-0 3; Jamal Slappy 1-5 0-0 2; Shy Martinez 0-1 0-0 0; Bruce Rice 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 23-29 81. JOHN JAY COLLEGE (1-5) Valerio, Alex 4-10 9-13 17; Luna, Kelvin 6-10 0-0 14; Collins, Matt 5-13 1-2 14; Yeates, Dustin 5-11 2-2 12; Mascall, Godfrey 3-5 2-4 8; Pierce, Robert 2-5 1-2 5; Henriquez, Homer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 15-23 70. New Jersey City University.... 40 41 - 81 John Jay College.............. 34 36 - 70 3-point goals--New Jersey City University 6-14 (Dana John 2-5; Josh Lopez 1-1; Dashan Martin 1-1; Divine Lyles 1-1; Kevin Tucker 1-3; Alex Mirabel 0-2; Marques Hill 0-1), John Jay College 5-15 (Collins, Matt 3-9; Luna, Kelvin 2-2; Mascall, Godfrey 0-1; Yeates, Dustin 0-3). Fouled out--New Jersey City University-None, John Jay College-None. Rebounds--New Jersey City University 39 (Abraham Williams 7), John Jay College 31 (Pierce, Robert 7). Assists--New Jersey City University 19 (Abraham Williams 5; Kevin Tucker 5), John Jay College 10 (Yeates, Dustin 3; Mascall, Godfrey 3). Total fouls--New Jersey City University 23, John Jay College 23. Technical fouls--New Jersey City University-Dashan Martin, John Jay College-Luna, Kelvin. A-183 1500th game on record in NJCU history.