New Jersey City University used a 17-4 run over the final 6:44 of regulation to erase a five-point deficit as the Gothic Knights snapped a three-game losing streak by knocking off first-place and previously undefeated Kean University, 67-59, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference inter-divisional men’s basketball game played Saturday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
With the victory, NJCU improves to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC, while Kean falls to 5-1 and 2-1 NJAC.
Down the stretch, senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) scored six points during the late spurt, while sophomore guard KEVIN TUCKER (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) and senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) each scored five.
Overall, sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (Pa.)) finished with a game-high 15 points, including 3-of-8 from three-point range. He added five steals and five rebounds. He notched 10 of his 15 points in nine minutes in the first half before leaving with foul trouble.
Williams achieved his second straight double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds (seven defensive), and three assists. Tucker scored all 13 of his points in the second half, shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point territory. He also grabbed seven rebounds and three assists. Mirabel had 11 points, five steals, and four assists.
Senior guard Lamar Wright (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) had 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, and added six rebounds, and junior guard William Floyd (Eustis, FL/Eustis) chipped in 12 points (4-7 FG). Senior forward Bryan Keller (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) had seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists, but shot 3-of-12 and 1-of-7 from three-point range.
The game was a physical affair with 43 fouls and a combined 56 turnovers—32 by the Cougars. NJCU held a 24-13 margin in points off turnovers. Kean out-rebounded NJCU, 47-42, and had a 38-20 edge in points in the paint. However, Kean shot just 2-of-16 from three point range (.125), while the Knights converted eight treys.
In a game which featured nine lead changes and seven ties, Kean held a slim 30-29 margin at the half. There were five ties in the second half, including 44-44, with 11:40 remaining on a jumper by junior guard SHY MARTINEZ (Union City/Union Hill).
Three pointers by Floyd and Keller gave Kean a 50-46 lead, and an offensive rebound and tip-in by Wright put the Cougars ahead 55-50 with 6:44 left.
A three by Mirabel made it 56-55, and after Kean scored for a 58-55 lead, Williams put back an offensive rebound to trim the deficit to 58-57 with 4:42 remaining. Williams found Tucker open for an uncontested layup at 4:08 and the Knights reclaimed the lead for good.
Williams hit the front end of two sets of free throws for a 61-58 margin at 1:16, before a Wright free throw made it 61-59. But with 32.7 seconds left and the shot clock winding down, Mirabel found Tucker on the right wing, where he buried a three for a 64-59 cushion, to put the game out of reach. Martinez made one free throw and Mirabel hit two more to cap the scoring.
NJCU will return to action on Saturday, December 16 at 3 p.m. when it visits Farmingdale State University in a non-conference game in Farmingdale, NY. Kean visits Moravian College on Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score Kean University vs New Jersey City University 12/09/06 8 p.m. at Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) At Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 67, KEAN UNIVERSITY 59 KEAN UNIVERSITY (5-1 (2-1 NJAC)) William Floyd 4-7 3-5 12; Lamar Wright 5-11 2-4 12; Bryan Keller 3-12 0-0 7; Keith Mills 3-5 0-0 6; Steve Koenigstein 2-7 2-2 6; Bryan Miller 2-6 1-2 5; Elijah Evelyn 2-2 0-0 4; Brett Wyatt 1-4 2-2 4; Roberto Alexandre 1-1 0-0 2; Seun Adeyemi 0-1 1-2 1; David Velazquez 0-0 0-0 0; Levan Tilly 0-0 0-0 0; Yasien Beatty 0-0 0-0 0; Anthony Virgil 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 23-60 11-17 59. NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (5-3 (1-2 NJAC)) Dana John 5-15 2-2 15; Kevin Tucker 5-12 0-0 13; Alex Mirabel 2-8 6-9 11; Abraham Williams 4-6 2-11 10; Shy Martinez 2-8 1-2 5; Aaron Desir 2-7 0-1 5; Jamal Slappy 0-0 4-4 4; Josh Lopez 0-6 2-2 2; Bruce Rice 1-2 0-0 2; Divine Lyles 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-66 17-31 67. Kean University............... 30 29 - 59 New Jersey City University.... 29 38 - 67 3-point goals--Kean University 2-16 (William Floyd 1-2; Bryan Keller 1-7; Bryan Miller 0-3; Anthony Virgil 0-1; Lamar Wright 0-3), New Jersey City University 8-29 (Kevin Tucker 3-7; Dana John 3-8; Aaron Desir 1-3; Alex Mirabel 1-3; Josh Lopez 0-5; Divine Lyles 0-1; Shy Martinez 0-2). Fouled out--Kean University-Steve Koenigstein, New Jersey City University-None. Rebounds--Kean University 47 (Bryan Keller 7), New Jersey City University 42 (Abraham Williams 10). Assists--Kean University 13 (Bryan Keller 4), New Jersey City University 13 (Alex Mirabel 4). Total fouls--Kean University 23, New Jersey City University 20. Technical fouls--Kean University-None, New Jersey City University-None. A-451