New Jersey City University committed 20 of its season-high 30 turnovers in the second half, including seven in the final 1:17 of regulation, and Lincoln University rallied from a 22-point first-half deficit to stun the Gothic Knights, 79-76, in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The loss was NJCU’s first since January 6, snapping a 10-game winning streak. The Knights also saw their 11-game home court winning streak end.
With the loss, NJCU falls to 16-8 overall and 9-1 at home. The Knights are still 11-2 overall since January 1. Lincoln University (16-7) won its fourth consecutive game to keep its Pool B hopes alive for the NCAA Tournament. NJCU, ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region, leads the all-time series, 7-2, but Lincoln, which is moving to Division II next year, won both meetings this year (November 29, 92-84).
The 30 turnovers committed by NJCU were the most in a game since 38 giveaways on November 29, 2004. The last time NJCU had 30 turnovers in a home game was December 12, 2001.
Lincoln, ranked eighth in the Mid-Atlantic Region overcame a double-digit deficit to win a game for the third time this year. The Lions have trailed by double digits in eight of their 10 road games. Senior forward Dwight Dean (Baltimore, MD/Cardinal Gibbons) scored twice off turnovers in the final minute to provide the winning margin. Lincoln had a 43-16 margin in bench scoring and had a 30-20 edge in points off turnovers.
In a physical game in which 57 fouls were called, the Knights struggled from the line, shooting 57.6 percent (19-33). Lincoln made 24-of-34 (70.6 percent).
Four players scored in double figures for NJCU, led by senior center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) with 17 points (5-8 FG), six rebounds and four assists before fouling out.
Junior forward MARQUES HILL (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) shot 7-of-9 from the field, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds, while senior point guard ALEX MIRABEL (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) contributed 13 points (5-10 FG) and four assists on Senior Day at NJCU. Sophomore swingman DANA JOHN (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) had 11 points (4-8 FG; 2-5 3FG) before fouling out with 3:16 left and NJCU leading by six. John extended his single-season record for threes to 75, and has 121 in two years.
Lincoln junior center Darryl White (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) had a game-high 23 points in only 18 minutes of action, largely due to an 11-for-14 effort from the stripe. He added seven rebounds before fouling out. Junior forward Tyreek Byard (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Learning Center) had 19 points (9-15 FG) and seven rebounds before fouling out. Dean had 10 points (6-8 FT) and five rebounds.
A see-saw battle in the first half saw NJCU leading 15-14 with 12:35 to play, before the Knights unleashed a 10-0 run to gain a 25-14 margin at 10:34. John had two triples during the spurt and Hill added two lay-ups. A jumper by White trimmed the score to nine, 32-23 with 7:52 on the clock before the Knights uncorked another huge spurt, this time a 16-3 edge, to pull in front by 22 points with 3:04 left in the opening period. Hill had seven during the run and Williams added five. Behind 55.9 percent first-half shooting (19-34), NJCU led by 19, 51-32 at the break.
But it was Lincoln that outscored NJCU by 22 in the second half (47-25), making 17 field goals in the period, versus eight by the Knights. The Lions scores nine of the game’s final 10 points.
NJCU continued to lead by double figures for almost 12 minutes in the period, before a jumper by Lincoln at 8:19 made it a nine-point game. The game remained at a three-possession distance, and two free throws by Williams at 5:43 made it 69-60. A free throw by Mirabel kept the game at an eight-point separation, 70-62, with 4:30 left. A lay-up by sophomore guard Keyon Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Southern) cut the lead to six, 70-64, and after NJCU lost its top perimeter shooter in John, Lincoln took advantage of his absence.
White made two free-throws at 3:16 (70-66), and trimmed the score to two, 70-68 with a lay-up at 2:42. After a lay-up by junior guard AARON DESIR (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) off a Williams feed made it 72-68 (2:26), Johnson found White for a second straight possession for a bucket and a 72-70 score with 2:04 left.
Williams would make one of two free throws at 1:51 (73-70). After Johnson missed a jumper at 1:40, Williams dove on the floor, grabbed the carom, threw it behind his head to Desir, who finished a fast-break lay-up at 1:29 for a five-point, 75-70 cushion. Junior guard Earl Miller (Wilmington, DE/Sanford School) made two free throws at 1:17 to trim it to 75-72.
Soon after, the turnovers began plaguing NJCU, including two in seven seconds, resulting in Williams fouling out. Dean converted one free throw at 1:10 and it was 75-73. After another NJCU turnover, the Lions missed two free throws and Desir made one with 55.4 left. NJCU grabbed the offensive board after Desir missed the back-end of the two shots, but the Knights again committed a turnover. LU race down court and missed a jumper, before Dean made it a one-point contest at 76-75 with 41 seconds left.
With 27 seconds left, after a wild collision, NJCU committed a fifth turnover underneath Lincoln’s basket, and Dean stole the ball and converted the lay-up, to give Lincoln the lead at 77-76. It was the Lion’s first lead since the 14:34 mark of the first half. NJCU called timeout with 17.2 left, but committed another turnover in the front court with 10 seconds left. Miller picked off the pass and drove down court for a fast-break bucket with six seconds remaining and a 79-76 score. NJCU had one final chance, but Miller forced NJCU’s seventh giveaway, and the Lions pulled out the come-back victory.
On Saturday, February 17, NJCU will visit Ramapo College at 3 p.m. at the Bradley Center in Mahwah, NJ. NJCU has a one-game lead over the Roadrunners in the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division, but the winner of that contest will be the No. 1 overall seed throughout the NJAC Tournament. Lincoln is back in action on February 20 when it hosts Penn State-Delaware County.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score Lincoln (Pa.) University vs New Jersey City University 02/15/07 8:15 pm at Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) At Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) LINCOLN (PA.) UNIVERSITY 79, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 76 LINCOLN (PA.) UNIVERSITY (16-7) White, Darryl 6-13 11-14 23; Byard, Tyreek 9-15 1-2 19; Dean, Dwight 2-6 6-8 10; Miller, Earl 3-5 3-3 9; Lahart, Thomas 3-4 0-0 6; Blanton, Dante 1-3 2-4 5; Johnson, Keyon 2-6 1-3 5; Washington, Dominic 1-4 0-0 2; Carter-Bey, Vincent 0-0 0-0 0; Grimes, Lavine 0-3 0-0 0; Wylie, Sami 0-3 0-0 0; Griffin, Vernine 0-0 0-0 0; Wooten, Garrick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 24-34 79. NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (16-8) Abraham Williams 5-8 7-12 17; Marques Hill 7-9 1-5 15; Alex Mirabel 5-10 3-6 13; Dana John 4-8 1-1 11; Aaron Desir 2-3 4-5 8; Shy Martinez 2-5 1-2 6; Kevin Tucker 1-6 2-2 4; Divine Lyles 1-2 0-0 2; Jamal Slappy 0-1 0-0 0; Luis Dominguez 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-54 19-33 76. Lincoln (Pa.) University...... 32 47 - 79 New Jersey City University.... 51 25 - 76 3-point goals--Lincoln (Pa.) University 1-12 (Blanton, Dante 1-3; Byard, Tyreek 0-1; Dean, Dwight 0-2; Miller, Earl 0-1; Johnson, Keyon 0-1; Wylie, Sami 0-3; White, Darryl 0-1), New Jersey City University 3-12 (Dana John 2-5; Shy Martinez 1-3; Alex Mirabel 0-1; Kevin Tucker 0-1; Divine Lyles 0-1; Jamal Slappy 0-1). Fouled out--Lincoln (Pa.) University-Byard, Tyreek; White, Darryl, New Jersey City University-Dana John; Abraham Williams. Rebounds--Lincoln (Pa.) University 32 (White, Darryl 7; Byard, Tyreek 7), New Jersey City University 39 (Marques Hill 7). Assists--Lincoln (Pa.) University 11 (Johnson, Keyon 5), New Jersey City University 18 (Abraham Williams 4; Alex Mirabel 4; Jamal Slappy 4). Total fouls--Lincoln (Pa.) University 31, New Jersey City University 26. Technical fouls--Lincoln (Pa.) University-None, New Jersey City University-None. A-291 NJCU leads all-time series, 7-2. LU sweeps season series and rallies from 22 point first half deficit to win in final minute. NJCU's 11-game home court winning streak and 10 game overall winning streak is snapped. NJCU's first loss since January 6.