NJCU junior swingman MARK WASHINGTON (East Orange, NJ/West Side) scored a game-high 27 points and was named Most Valuable Player, as second seeded New Jersey City University never trailed in the second half and outlasted top-seeded Lincoln University (PA), 92-82, in the championship game of the inaugural Association of Division III Independents Tournament, hosted by St. Joseph’s College (ME) at the Alfano Center.
NJCU (18-9) won both games of the tournament by double digits—its third tournament title this season—and improved to 7-0 all-time against Lincoln, including two victories this season. NJCU had five players in double figures, as the Gothic Knights shot 47.6 percent from the field (30-63), and 58.8 percent from three-point land, hitting 10-of-17. NJCU made 14-of-26 from the floor (.538) and 17-of-23 from the line in the second period. The Knights shot well from the line, converting 22-of-28 (.786).
Lincoln (21-6) had its 10-game winning streak snapped with the loss. The Lions have won 15-of-17 overall, but both losses during the span have come against the Gothic Knights. NJCU previously defeated Lincoln, 76-70 in overtime in Jersey City on January 29, by rallying from a 10-point deficit with 1:41 remaining in regulation.
Although the tournament winner does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, it will strengthen NJCU’s case for an at-large Pool B selection. The selections for the 2005 Division III Tournament will be made late Sunday night.
Washington scored 14 of his 27 in the second half, and shot 10-of-16 overall and 4-of-6 from three-point range, adding six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He now has exactly 1100 career points, and moved into a third place tie in school history with 109 three pointers.
Senior shooting guard JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) also earned selection to the All-Tournament team by posting a near triple-double, with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, with 9-of-13 from the line.
Freshman forward ANTOINNE MORGANO (Newark, NJ/University) tallied 13 points (4-6), and six rebounds, while junior point guard ROB FREENEY (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) and junior center JAMES KAISER (South Orange, NJ/Columbia) each poured in 11. Sophomore forward DEVIN DAVIS (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) contributed seven defensive rebounds and three blocks.
In defeat, Lincoln’s two nationally-ranked scorers combined for 52 points, Junior forward Jarett Kearse (Philadelphia, PA/Simon Gratz) was named to the All-Tournament team, matching Washington with 27 points on 10-of-25 shooting, including 7-of-18 from three-point range, and seven defensive rebounds in 40 minutes.
Junior guard Kyle Myrick (Philadelphia, PA/Overbrook) also was tabbed to the All-Tournament team after he dropped 25 points (12-28), with seven assists before fouling out in the final seconds. Freshman center Thomas Hickson (Baltimore, MD/Woodlawn) added 10 points (4-5), and freshman forward Darryl White (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) grabbed nine rebounds (seven offensive).
Lincoln led for most of the first half, and pulled in front by seven, 31-24, at 5:04 off a Kearse three. However, consecutive threes by Rodriguez and Washington, gave NJCU back a lead, and a Freeney trey at 54 seconds, followed by a Washington offensive rebound and putback with 23 seconds left in the period, allowed NJCU to head to the intermission with a 43-40 cushion. NJCU never trailed again.
Hickson tied the game for Lincoln with a tip-in at 17:24, making it 44-44, and a later Lions’ dunk evened the score at 49-49. However, Washington drained a three at 14:46 to give NJCU a 52-49 lead it would never relinquish. NJCU’s lead extended to eight, 74-66, at 6:25 when sophomore forward SANNI OJIBARA (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) canned a trey.
Lincoln twice shaved the lead to two, including 78-76 with 4:28 left after a Myrick jumper, but a 7-0 run highlighted by a Morgano tip-in, a pair of free throws, and a Freeney three, increased NJCU’s lead to 85-76, with 2:53 remaining. NJCU converted 7-of-10 at the line down the stretch, led by Washington and Rodriguez. The Knights’ 10-point final margin was its largest lead if the game.
NJCU out-rebounded Lincoln, 43-37. The Lions shots 44.2 percent overall (34-77), but struggled from three-point range, making only 8-of-27 (.296) and 1-of-9 outside of Kearse. LU was 6-of-11 from the line (.545). Lincoln had advantages of 46-32 in the paint, and 14-8 on the fast break, but NJCU’s reserves outscored the Lion bench, 23-8.
If NJCU is not selected to the NCAA’s, the Knights will likely be a high seed in the 2005 ECAC Metro New York/New Jersey Tournament, beginning Wednesday. NJCU has earned a post-season bid in 22 consecutive seasons.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score New Jersey City University vs Lincoln University (PA) 02/26/05 5:10 pm at Standish, ME (Alfano Center) At Standish, ME (Alfano Center) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 92, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY (PA) 82 NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (18-9) Mark Washington 10-16 3-4 27; Javier Rodriguez 3-10 9-13 16; Antoinne Morgano 4-6 5-5 13; James Kaiser 3-6 5-6 11; Rob Freeney 4-8 0-0 11; Sanni Ojibara 2-6 0-0 5; Christopher Kates 2-3 0-0 5; Devin Davis 2-7 0-0 4; Charles Coles 0-0 0-0 0; Ben Balcom 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-63 22-28 92. LINCOLN UNIVERSITY (PA) (21-6) Jarett Kearse 10-25 0-0 27; Kyle Myrick 12-28 1-2 25; Thomas Hickson 4-5 2-2 10; Alexis Perez 2-9 2-4 6; Darryl White 3-5 0-1 6; Vincent Carter-Bey 1-2 0-0 3; Thomas Lahart 1-2 1-2 3; Linwood Gilmore 1-1 0-0 2; Shawn Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-77 6-11 82. New Jersey City University.... 43 49 - 92 Lincoln University (PA)....... 40 42 - 82 3-point goals-New Jersey City University 10-17 (Mark Washington 4-6; Rob Freeney 3-5; Javier Rodriguez 1-4; Sanni Ojibara 1-1; Christopher Kates 1-1), Lincoln University (PA) 8-27 (Jarett Kearse 7-18; Vincent Carter-Bey 1-1; Alexis Perez 0-3; Kyle Myrick 0-5). Fouled out--New Jersey City University-None, Lincoln University (PA)-Kyle Myrick. Rebounds-New Jersey City University 43 (Javier Rodriguez 11), Lincoln University (PA) 37 (Darryl White 9). Assists-New Jersey City University 22 (Javier Rodriguez 8), Lincoln University (PA) 16 (Kyle Myrick 7). Total fouls-New Jersey City University 12, Lincoln University (PA) 19. A-150 Championship game of the 2005 Association of Division III Independents Tournament between No. 1 seeded Lincoln and No. 2 NJCU. NJCU leads the all-time series, 7-0. Lincoln had entered the game with a 10-game win streak and 15-of-16.