NJCU EXTENDS HOME COURT WINNING STREAK TO 13, POSTS 30TH CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASON
JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University junior swingman MARK WASHINGTON (East Orange, NJ/West Side) recorded his fifth double-double of the season, and led five Gothic Knights in double figures, with 22 points and 10 rebounds, as NJCU scrapped Kean University, 82-62, in a non-conference game at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center.
With the victory, NJCU (14-6) extends its home court winning streak to 13 games, and improve to 8-0 in Jersey City this season, by winning its sixth consecutive contest, and 10th in 12 games since Washington returned to the lineup on December 28. NJCU has not lost at home since falling to Montclair State on February 4, 2004. Kean (11-10) drops its fourth straight with the setback. NJCU is 35-11 overall and 21-3 at home against the Cougars since 1982-83, the first year that head coach CHARLES BROWN was mentor of the program.
With the win, NJCU guarantees a 30th consecutive winning season since 1974-74, and 35th straight non-losing campaign, dating to 1969-70. Both streaks are the second longest active strings of perpetual success in Division III, second only to Wittenberg University (OH).
Washington scored his 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting, to give him 976 in his career, leaving him just 24 shy of becoming the 25th member of the 1000-point club with three home games next week, and well over a year remaining in his career. Six of his 10 boards were offensive, and he added two blocks.
Freshman forward ANTOINNE MORGANO (Newark, NJ/University) posted a career-high 15 points (5-10) with seven rebounds and three steals in only 19 minutes of reserve action. Senior guard JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) became the 22nd player in school history to play in 100 career games, as he tallied 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.
Freshman point guard CHARLES COLES (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) collected 11 points with three treys, while sophomore center ABRAHAM WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) added 10 points (4-9), seven rebounds, and four steals. Sophomore forward DEVIN DAVIS (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) chipped in eight points (4-10), eight rebounds, four blocks, and four assists. It was the second time this season NJCU has had five players in double figures in the same game, last occurring on December 11, 2004, in a loss at Staten Island.
In defeat, Kean had four players in double figures, led by junior forward Armet Coles (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) with 15 points (6-15), six rebounds, and two blocks. Sophomore forward Bryan Keller (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) amassed 12 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3 FG) and three assists, while junior forward BJ Hamby (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) finished with 11 points (5-7) and five boards. Sophomore guard Bryan Miller (Trenton, NJ/Trenton) had 10 points (4-7).
In a competitive first half, the lead exchanged hands six times before one of Washington’s three treys gave NJCU the lead for good, 30-27, at 2:59. That sparked an 11-3 run, as NJCU pulled in front by eight, leading by six at the break, 38-32.
A three by Rodriguez, followed by a Coles fast-break lay-up gave NJCU a double-digit lead. After an offensive rebound and put-back by Morgano at 16:08 gave NJCU a 49-38 cushion, Kean could never cut the deficit to less than 10 the remainder of the contest. NJCU’s final 20-point margin was its largest lead of the game.
NJCU finished shooting .404 (30-75), but canned 51.5 percent in the second half (17-33), and sank nine threes overall. Kean shot .469 from the floor (23-49). However, the most crucial stat was on the glass, where the NJCU rebounding margin was the same as the final score, with the Knights possessing a 51-31 edge. That included a 30-12 difference on the offensive boards, which NJCU translated into a 30-13 margin in second chance points.
NJCU returns to action on Monday, February 7 at 8pm when it hosts #16-ranked Ramapo College in a make-up of a January 22 snow-related postponement, in what amounts to a critical regional game for the NCAA-hopeful Gothic Knights. Kean next plays Wednesday at William Paterson University.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score Kean University vs New Jersey City University 02/05/05 8 pm at Jersey City, NJ (JJM Ath. & Fitness Ctr) At Jersey City, NJ (JJM Ath. & Fitness Ctr) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 82, KEAN UNIVERSITY 62 KEAN UNIVERSITY (11-10) Armet Coles 6-15 3-7 15; Bryan Keller 4-8 2-2 12; BJ Hamby 5-7 1-2 11; Bryan Miller 4-7 1-2 10; Tan Kesler 2-4 2-5 7; Ariel Garcia 0-1 3-4 3; Steve Koenigstein 1-2 0-0 2; Danny Del Valle 1-1 0-0 2; Bobby Morgan 0-0 0-0 0; Keith Mills 0-0 0-0 0; Ozie Pela 0-0 0-0 0; Russell Jordan 0-3 0-0 0; Matt Betz 0-1 0-0 0; Amit Shuker 0-0 0-0 0; Matt Horton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-49 12-22 62. NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (14-6) Mark Washington 8-19 3-6 22; Antoinne Morgano 5-10 5-8 15; Javier Rodriguez 4-5 0-0 11; Charles Coles 4-11 0-2 11; Abraham Williams 4-9 2-4 10; Devin Davis 4-10 0-0 8; Luis DaSilva 0-1 3-3 3; James Kaiser 1-2 0-0 2; Sanni Ojibara 0-2 0-0 0; Christopher Kates 0-0 0-0 0; Ben Balcom 0-3 0-2 0; Rajahn Jones 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 30-75 13-25 82. Kean University............... 32 30 - 62 New Jersey City University.... 38 44 - 82 3-point goals-Kean University 4-9 (Bryan Keller 2-4; Tan Kesler 1-2; Bryan Miller 1-1; Steve Koenigstein 0-1; Ariel Garcia 0-1), New Jersey City University 9-28 (Charles Coles 3-9; Javier Rodriguez 3-4; Mark Washington 3-7; Devin Davis 0-1; Luis DaSilva 0-1; Sanni Ojibara 0-1; Ben Balcom 0-2; Rajahn Jones 0-3). Fouled out--Kean University-None, New Jersey City University-None. Rebounds-Kean University 31 (Armet Coles 6; Tan Kesler 6), New Jersey City University 51 (Mark Washington 10). Assists-Kean University 13 (Danny Del Valle 4), New Jersey City University 20 (Devin Davis 4; Abraham Williams 4). Total fouls-Kean University 21, New Jersey City University 18. A-312 NJCU extends home court winning streak to 13 games, dating to last season. NJCU has won six consecutive games and 9-out-of-11 since roster expanded to 16 NJCU's Mark Washington now with 976 career points, 24 shy of 1000. NJCU is 35-11 overall and 21-3 at home versus Kean in career of Charles Brown.