RAMAPO FENDS OFF NEW JERSEY CITY, 88-87
Mahwah, NJ: In a match-up of the last two New Jersey Athletic Conference champions, the Ramapo College Roadrunners played host to the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University. The Roadrunners opened this Saturday’s contest on fire as they scored the first 13 points of the contest. The visitor’s answered with a pair of Dana John (Hillside, NJ) three pointers and a Rob Freeney (Piscataway, NJ) tip in to cut the lead to five, 13-8. That was the closest the Gothic Knights would come, as Ramapo extended their lead to its widest margin, 22, 39-17, with just under seven minutes to play in the first half, on an Antoine Pryor (Elizabeth, NJ) three pointer. In a fast paced first half, New Jersey City cut the margin down to 15, 44-29, following a Freeney lay-up with two minutes to go in the first period. The Roadrunners ended the first half on top of the Gothic Knights by a score of 48-32. New Jersey City was led by Mark Washington’s (East Orange, NJ) ten points and three steals, and Abraham Williams’ (Jersey City, NJ) four rebounds. The Roadrunners’ balanced attack included 15 points from Rashawn Wilson (Jersey City, NJ), nine from Timothy Wesley (Jersey City, NJ), and eight from Ahmad Mosby (Jersey City, NJ). Wilson hauled in eight first half rebounds, while Mosby dished out three assists and nabbed two steals. The Roadrunners shot a smoldering 62.5% in the first twenty minutes of action.
The Roadrunners built their lead back to twenty just 37 seconds into the second half on a Mike Malko (Hillsborough, NJ) jumper, 52-32. Ramapo looked to be able to cruise to victory as the lead grew to 23, with 15 minutes left to play in the game. At this point NJCU began to mount a furious rally, when they went on a 9-0 run highlighted by John’s three point jumper. The margin hovered between 14 and 12 for the next five minutes until Devin Davis (Red Bank, NJ) buried a three pointer to cut the lead to single digits for the first time since early in the first half. A three point play by Wilson pushed the lead back out to 11 with just over four minutes to play in regulation, 84-73. The Gothic Knights then engineered a 14-2 run to take a one point lead with just 13 seconds to go. The run was capped off by a Davis lay-up, assisted by Mark Washington (East Orange, NJ). With no time outs remaining, the Roadrunners in-bounded the ball to a streaking Mosby, who glided to the hoop for lay-in, to regain the lead 88-87, with just seven seconds remaining. The final New Jersey City jumper grazed off the back of the rim, falling harmlessly to the floor, as Ramapo came out victorious in the hard fought battle, avenging their previous loss to the Gothic Knights this season.
Washington led four Gothic Knights in double figures with 24 points, and added seven steals. John contributed 15 points, five rebounds, and four steals in a losing effort. Wilson posted game highs in points, 26, and rebounds, 14 while Mosby added 14 points and eight assists. While the Roadrunners shot 61% for the game, NJCU forced them into committing 34 turnovers, which helped the Gothic Knights’ comeback efforts. Ramapo improves to 13-4, 6-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference while NJCU falls to 9-4 overall, 4-3 in the conference.
The Roadrunners will be back in action at Kean University Wednesday night at 8pm, while NCJU will travel to Rutgers- Newark, tip time 7:30 pm.