Sophomore center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) and junior swingman BEN BALCOM (Monroe Township, NJ/St. Patrick’s) each scored 21 points as New Jersey City University defeated SUNY-Farmingdale, 86-78, at FSU’s Nold Hall.
The victory gave NJCU head men’s basketball coach CHARLES BROWN the 429th of his 23-year career, and he ties Ollie Gelston—his former head coach— for third place among the winningest coaches in the history of New Jersey men’s college basketball. Brown, who played for Gelston from 1962-65 and then Jersey City State, is now 429-191 in his illustrious career. Gelston won 429 games in a 32-year career at JCSC (1960-67) and
then-Montclair State College (1968-1991)
NJCU improved to 3-2 on the season while shooting 50 percent from the field (33-of-66) and three-point territory (9-of-18). FSU is 1-3.
Williams scored 21 (8-of-16), with seven rebounds (five defensive), four assists, four steals and two blocks. Balcom made his first start since transferring to NJCU from Middlesex County College, and took advantage by notching 21 points for a second consecutive game, and nailed five three-pointers. He shot 7-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 from three-point range, and contributed three steals.
Freshman guard RAJAHN JONES (Roselle, NJ/Pocono Mountain, PA) chipped in 14 points (5-of-10 FG, 2-of-5 3FG), four assists, and three steals for the Gothic Knights. Sophomore forward DEVIN DAVIS (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) tacked on eight points, five rebounds, and four blocked shots. JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) had nine points, six rebounds, and four assists. Junior center WILL MORRIS (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) hit all four of his shots for eight points, and stuffed two shots in just eight minutes off the bench.
Junior forward KENNY McMILLAN (Bronx, NY/All Hallows) finished with 20 points (9-of-15) and eight rebounds for the Rams, while freshman guard BRANDON NIEVES (Harlem, NY/All Hallows) matched his teammate with 20 more on 10-of-19. Senior forward DAMIEN McKENZIE (Lakeview, NY/Malverne) chalked up a double-double with 14 points (7-of-14 FG), 12 rebounds (nine offensive) and three blocks.
NJCU shot 61.5 percent in the second half (16-of-26). FSU out-rebounded NJCU, 51-28, mostly on the offensive glass where the Rams edged the Knights, 26-9, mostly off of its 41 missed shots. The Rams shot 43.8 percent overall (32-of-73). FSU committed 27 turnovers.
NJCU outscored FSU, 43-39 in each half. After a 35-35 tie with 3:27 left in the first half, NJCU never trailed again and extended its margin to as many as 20, 74-54, with 8:39 remaining.
NJCU next sees action on Saturday, December 4 at 8pm when the Knights host St. Joseph’s College (LI).
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score New Jersey City University vs SUNY-Farmingdale State 12/02/04 8 pm at Farmingdale, NY (Nold Hall) At Farmingdale, NY (Nold Hall) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 86, SUNY-FARMINGDALE STATE 78 NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (3-2) Ben Balcom 7-9 2-2 21; Abraham Williams 8-17 5-9 21; Rajahn Jones 5-10 2-2 14; Javier Rodriguez 3-6 2-3 9; Will Morris 4-4 0-0 8; Devin Davis 4-9 0-2 8; Christopher Kates 1-2 0-0 3; Namreh White 1-4 0-0 2; James Kaiser 0-3 0-0 0; Shaun Patterson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 33-66 11-18 86. SUNY-FARMINGDALE STATE (1-3) Brandon Nieves 10-19 0-0 20; Kenny McMillan 9-15 2-7 20; Damien McKenzie 7-14 0-1 14; Dashawn Warren 1-11 5-6 7; Sean Scola 3-3 1-2 7; Warren McAllister 1-7 2-2 5; Jimmy Williams 1-4 3-6 5; Sean McCabe 0-0 0-0 0; Peter Lipka 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 32-73 13-25 78. New Jersey City University.... 43 43 - 86 SUNY-Farmingdale State........ 39 39 - 78 3-point goals-New Jersey City University 9-18 (Ben Balcom 5-6; Rajahn Jones 2-5; Christopher Kates 1-2; Javier Rodriguez 1-2; Namreh White 0-2; Shaun Patterson 0-1), SUNY-Farmingdale State 1-11 (Warren McAllister 1-1; Dashawn Warren 0-4; Jimmy Williams 0-3; Brandon Nieves 0-3). Fouled out--New Jersey City University-Devin Davis, SUNY-Farmingdale State-None. Rebounds-New Jersey City University 28 (Abraham Williams 7), SUNY-Farmingdale State 51 (Damien McKenzie 12). Assists-New Jersey City University 22 (Christopher Kates 4; Rajahn Jones 4; Abraham Williams 4; Javier Rodriguez 4), SUNY-Farmingdale State 12 (Brandon Nieves 4). Total fouls-New Jersey City University 20, SUNY-Farmingdale State 18. A-140 Charles Brown ties Ollie Gelston with 429 wins for the third most in the history of New Jersey college basketball.