New Jersey City University junior swingman MARK WASHINGTON (East Orange, NJ/West Side) posted a game-high 15 points and seven steals in only 17 minutes of action as the Gothic Knights extended their home court winning streak to 12 by soundly defeating Mitchell College (CT), 80-52, in an independent game at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center.
NJCU improves to 13-6 overall with its fifth consecutive victory, and ninth in 11 games since Washington returned to the lineup on December 28. The Knights, who are 7-0 at home this season, have not lost in Jersey City since falling to Montclair State on February 4, 2004. Mitchell falls to 3-9 in varsity games with the setback. It was the first meeting between the two schools in men’s basketball.
Washington saw limited action with NJCU owning a decisive lead. He shot 6-of-9 from the field in the victory, and with 15 points, now has 954 in his career. He’s needs just 46 to become the 25th member of the 1000-point club with well over a year remaining in his career, and could achieve the milestone at home, as the Knights play their next four in Jersey City.
Also for NJCU off the bench, freshman forward ANTOINNE MORGANO (Newark, NJ/University) had 11 points (5-7) in 13 minutes, while freshman point guard RAJAHN JONES (Roselle, NJ/Pocono Mountain, PA) chipped in 10 points (4-5), three assists and three steals in 14 minutes. NJCU’s reserves outmanned the Pequots’ bench players, 43-17.
Sophomore forward DEVIN DAVIS (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) tallied nine points (4-7), a team-high eight rebounds (six offensive) and four assists in 17 minutes.
One player reached double-digits for the Pequots, a NCAA provisional member. Sophomore guard Thaddeus Smith (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill Senior) finished with 14 points (5-13) in 31 minutes.
Junior point guard David Andrade (Brockton, MA/Brockton) collected a game-high nine boards, with five assists and five steals in 31 minutes, but coughed up six turnovers.
Washington did not score in his opening shift of the game, but returned with 3:48 left in the first period, with the Knight lead at three, 27-24. NJCU closed the half on an 11-2 run to pull in front 38-26 at the intermission. Washington was the key component of the stretch, notching nine of the Knights’ 12 points, with two steals.
NJCU opened the following half on a 26-3 run, to extend the overall streak to 37-5 over a 10:16 span between the end of the first and beginning of the second period. A fast-break jumper by Jones made it 53-29 at 13:32 to cap the outburst.
Mitchell did not score a field goal for a duration of 5:42 during the second half run. NJCU led by as many as 30 in the rout.
NJCU outscored the Pequots in the paint, 44-16, and had a 26-9 margin in points off turnovers, with Mitchell committing 30 in the game. NJCU also had a 16-2 edge in fast-break scoring, and out-rebounded the visitors, 46-33. NJCU shot .408 overall (29-71), despite struggling from long range (4-24, .167). Mitchell was limited to a .347 percentage from the floor (17-49).
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, February 5 at 8pm with a key regional game against Kean University in the third of six consecutive home games, before facing #16-ranked Ramapo on Monday.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score Mitchell College vs New Jersey City University 02/03/05 7 pm at Jersey City, NJ (JJM Ath. & Fitness Ctr) At Jersey City, NJ (JJM Ath. & Fitness Ctr) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 80, MITCHELL COLLEGE 52 MITCHELL COLLEGE (3-9) Thaddeus Smith 5-13 2-2 14; Marc Wesoly 3-3 0-0 7; Timothy Williamson 3-5 1-3 7; Christopher Brown 1-3 4-4 6; David Andrade 2-6 0-0 4; James Dunleavy 1-7 2-4 4; Andrew Crooms 1-2 2-4 4; Dennis Phajou 0-2 2-2 2; Tyrone Richardson 0-3 2-2 2; Michael Ferreira 1-2 0-0 2; Kevin Scanlon 0-1 0-0 0; Antonio Santos 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-49 15-21 52. NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (13-6) Mark Washington 6-9 2-2 15; Antoinne Morgano 5-7 1-1 11; Rajahn Jones 4-5 2-2 10; Devin Davis 4-7 1-1 9; Sanni Ojibara 2-9 3-4 7; Charles Coles 1-5 3-4 6; Namreh White 1-6 2-2 5; James Kaiser 2-3 0-0 4; Abraham Williams 2-3 0-1 4; Will Morris 0-2 3-4 3; Javier Rodriguez 1-7 0-2 3; Shaun Patterson 1-3 0-0 2; Ben Balcom 0-2 1-2 1; Luis DaSilva 0-2 0-0 0; Christopher Kates 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-71 18-25 80. Mitchell College.............. 26 26 - 52 New Jersey City University.... 38 42 - 80 3-point goals-Mitchell College 3-10 (Thaddeus Smith 2-7; Marc Wesoly 1-1; James Dunleavy 0-1; Dennis Phajou 0-1), New Jersey City University 4-24 (Javier Rodriguez 1-6; Charles Coles 1-4; Mark Washington 1-4; Namreh White 1-4; Sanni Ojibara 0-2; Shaun Patterson 0-1; Ben Balcom 0-1; Christopher Kates 0-1; Rajahn Jones 0-1). Fouled out--Mitchell College-None, New Jersey City University-None. Rebounds-Mitchell College 33 (David Andrade 9), New Jersey City University 46 (Devin Davis 8). Assists-Mitchell College 7 (David Andrade 5), New Jersey City University 21 (Devin Davis 4). Total fouls-Mitchell College 16, New Jersey City University 19. A-96 NJCU wins its fifth consecutive game and extends streak to 9-out-of-11. First meeting between NJCU and Mitchell in men's basketball.