RUTGERS-NEWARK STUNS NJCU, 64-63, WITH WANING SECONDS TREY
Junior guard Manny Rios (Newark, NJ/Essex County Vocational) hit a 27-foot three-pointer from the left arc with 11.6 seconds remaining, and freshman forward Jermont Horton (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) recorded 35 points and 14 rebounds, as Rutgers-Newark shocked first-place New Jersey City University, 64-63, in New Jersey Athletic Conference intra-divisional game in front of a Homecoming weekend crowd of 1,419 at the Athletic & Fitness Center.
NJCU missed 6-of-8 free throws in the final 1:51 of play with the opportunity to put the game away in its hands. The loss was only the fourth by NJCU (51-4) in 55 all-time meetings with the Scarlet Raiders. Two of those losses have come in the last three meetings. NJCU is 39-3 and 19-2 at home against Newark in the 22-year career of Coach Charles Brown.
NJCU falls to 14-4 overall and 5-1 in the NJAC, as the Knights lose in league play for the first time. NJCU was the last team in the conference undefeated in league play. The loss also ended the Knights’ five-game winning streak and was the clubs’ first at home this season (5-1). Rutgers-Newark is 10-6 and 3-3 in the league.
Horton eclipsed his previous career high of 27, and matched his top rebounding mark, while shooting 13-of-21 overall. Despite six turnovers, he was unmatched on the glass, with nine of the boards on defense. He saw 38 minutes of action.
Junior forward MARK WASHINGTON (East Orange, NJ/West Side) led the way in scoring for NJCU with 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting, and added seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 36 minutes. However, he missed two free throws with 26 seconds remaining and NJCU clutching a 63-61 lead.
Sophomore point guard KAREEM COLLINS (Hillside,
NJ/Hillside) tallied 14 points (6-of-11) with four assists in 33 minutes. However, his jumper with four seconds remaining that could have put NJCU ahead fell short.
Senior guard SAMAR BATTLE (East Orange, NJ/Clifford Scott) scored a season-low 12 points (4-of-9 FG, 4-of-8 FT). He contributed seven rebounds (six defensive), four blocks, three assists, and two steals in 33 minutes, but committed five turnovers. Freshman forward RODNEY LIGON (Newark, NJ/University) finished with nine points on 4-of-7.
Also for Newark, Rios added 10 points (4-of-11) and seven rebounds (six defensive). Senior guard Donald Parrish (Newark, NJ/St. Patrick’s) chipped in eight points, six rebounds, and three assists, but fouled out after coughing up eight turnovers.
The Raiders outshot (.426, 23-of-54) outshot NJCU (.365, 23-of-63), and out-rebounded (50-34) the Knights. However, the difference was at the line. Both teams struggled, but the Knights only hit 12-of-32 freebies, a .375 percentage. Newark committed 28 of the games’ 45 turnovers.
NJCU led for most of the first half, and were up by as many as six, before Newark gained a five point lead with 1:06 remaining prior to half-time. NJCU scored the final five points of the half for a 34-34 tie at the break.
The game remained tied at 39-39 before a 9-2 run gave the Knights a 48-41 lead. This time Newark chipped away, tying the game at 50-50 on a Parrish jumper with 9:02 left. A Horton trey with 7:32 remaining gave the Raiders a 53-52 lead. Newark led by four, 57-53 with 5:36 left before Collins nailed a three, and NJCU went on an 8-0 tear for a 61-57 lead with 2:38 left. Horton banked in a three with exactly 2:00 remaining to close the score to 61-60. From this point on, NJCU missed six of eight free throws, and could not take advantage of an intentional foul called with just over 32 seconds left, hitting 1-of-2 free throws for a 63-61 edge, before turning the ball over on the inbounds. Horton had a turnover with 27 seconds on the clock, and Washington was fouled when NJCU regained possession, but missed both chances at 00:26. Rios hit the eventual winning three with on the ensuing drive.
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, January 28 at 8pm in Wayne when the first-place Knights visit second-place William Paterson in the first of two crucial meetings this season.
-WWW.NJCU.EDU/GOKNIGHTS-
Newspaper Box Score Rutgers-Newark vs New Jersey City U. 01/24/04 7 pm at Jersey City, NJ (Athletic & Fitness Ctr) At Jersey City, NJ (Athletic & Fitness Ctr) RUTGERS-NEWARK 64, NEW JERSEY CITY U. 63 RUTGERS-NEWARK (10-6, 3-3 NJAC) Jermont Horton 13-21 6-7 35; Manny Rios 4-11 1-1 10; Donald Parrish 3-5 2-4 8; Boabdul Louison 1-4 1-2 3; Mike Lindsey 1-2 0-0 2; Rasheen Blackwell 0-3 2-5 2; Ronnie Melendez 1-6 0-0 2; Terrence Woodson 0-0 2-2 2; Tsombawi Knibye 0-2 0-1 0. Totals 23-54 14-22 64. NEW JERSEY CITY U. (14-4, 5-1 NJAC) Mark Washington 6-17 1-3 15; Kareem Collins 6-11 1-4 14; Samar Battle 4-9 4-8 12; Rodney Ligon 4-7 0-3 9; Abraham Williams 2-5 2-6 6; Mike Barry 1-5 0-0 3; Javier Rodriguez 0-4 2-6 2; Harold Williams 0-2 2-2 2; Bo Agnan 0-1 0-0 0; Christopher Kates 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-63 12-32 63. Rutgers-Newark................ 34 30 - 64 New Jersey City U............. 34 29 - 63 3-point goals-Rutgers-Newark 4-9 (Jermont Horton 3-3; Manny Rios 1-1; Boabdul Louison 0-2; Mike Lindsey 0-1; Rasheen Blackwell 0-1; Donald Parrish 0-1), New Jersey City U. 5-23 (Mark Washington 2-8; Rodney Ligon 1-2; Mike Barry 1-3; Kareem Collins 1-2; Bo Agnan 0-1; Christopher Kates 0-1; Javier Rodriguez 0-4; Samar Battle 0-2). Fouled out--Rutgers-Newark-Boabdul Louison; Donald Parrish, New Jersey City U.-None. Rebounds-Rutgers-Newark 50 (Jermont Horton 14), New Jersey City U. 34 (Samar Battle 7; Mark Washington 7). Assists-Rutgers-Newark 9 (Donald Parrish 3), New Jersey City U. 16 (Kareem Collins 4). Total fouls-Rutgers-Newark 30, New Jersey City U. 22. A-1419 Homecoming 2004 at New Jersey City University. NJCU leads the all-time series, 51-4. Newark wins two of last three meetings.