Jersey City, NJ:  The New Jersey City University men's basketball team defeated Ramapo College, 73-54, in a NJAC conference game. With the win the Gothic Knights improve to 8-11 overall and even their conference record at 6-6 while the Roadrunners now stand at 12-9 overall and 6-8 in the NJAC.
 
The Gothic Knights jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the first seven minutes of the first half. Neville Joseph scored 13 of NJCU's first 15 points including three three-pointers. The Roadrunners then went on a 8-0 run of their own to come within two, 13-15, with 11:51 on the clock as Frank Nocked capped off the run with a basket. Josh Ford nailed a three-pointer to tie the game at 21 all with 8:39 to go in the half off a dish from Nock.  NJCU went on a 9-0 run over the next four minutes as Bilal Abdul-Raheem sank a three-point to start the run with 8:02 on the clock and David Cole scored a basket to take a 30-21 lead. Nock snapped the run with a basket for the Roadrunners (4:47) while Ve'Shawn Polite made the second of a two-shot foul (4:07) to come within six, 24-30, before Jourdan Roberson hit a three-pointer for NJCU (3:48) to take a 33-24 lead. Following a Ramapo basket Roberson nailed another three-pointer for NJCU with 2:13 left in the half, to take a ten-point lead, 36-26.  Nock made two foul shots before Jermaine Peart tallied a layup with 1:48 on the clock, shrinking the NJCU lead to six, 30-36. Ford stole the ball with 39 seconds on the clock and Peart converted on a layup allowing the Roadrunners to come within four, 32-36 before NJCU's Neville Joseph made a three-pointer off a dish from Joseph Kelley with four seconds remaining in the half. NJCU Took a 39-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
NJCU made seven three-pointers in the first half (7-19) and shot 43% from the field (14-32) while the Roadrunners shot 45% (9-20) from the field and 81% (13-16) from the foul line.  NJCU held a slight advantage in rebounds, 17-14. NJCU forced ten Roadrunners turnovers resulting in 15 points for the Gothic Knights. Ramapo would force nine NJCU turnovers in the first half, resulting in eight points for the Roadrunners.
 
In the first 7:17 of the second half the Gothic Knights scored 11 points to the Roadrunners four points taking a 50-36 lead with 12:43 on the clock as Joseph scored for NJCU forcing a Ramapo timeout. Following the timeout the Gothic Knights went on a mini 5-1 run capped off by a three-pointer from Kelley with 10:28 on the clock to take a 55-37 lead. V. Simpson Turner scored for Ramapo (10:12), 39-55 before NJCU scored back-to-back baskets to take a 20 point lead, 59-39 with just over eight minutes to play in the game. Ramapo shrunk the NJCU lead to 45-61 with 5:25 to go in the game on two foul shots by Nock before NJCU went on a mini 5-0 run, extending their lead 66-45 with just over three minutes left to play. The Gothic Knights held at least an 18-point lead in the final minutes, posting their biggest lead of the game, 73-50, with one minute on the clock. Ramapo scored the final four points as Peart sunk a foul shot and James Long drained a three-pointer with 21 seconds on the clock, 54-73.
 
Joseph led both teams with 29 points and ten rebounds while Roberson added 13 points and three assists for the Gothic Knights. NJCU shot 41% (26-62) from the field, 33% (9-27) from beyond the three-point line and 75% (12-16) from the foul line. NJCU caused 19 Ramapo turnovers in the game resulting in 25 points for the Gothic Knights.
 
For the Roadrunners, Nock led the team with 15 points, six rebounds and two assists while Peart added 13 points, one block and one steal. Nick Stanek led the team with ten rebounds while he scored seven points. Ford also scored seven points while he dished out three assists and recorded two steals. Ramapo shot 35% (15-42) from the field, 22% (2-9) from beyond the three-point line and 62% (22-35) from the foul line. Ramapo caused 16 NJCU turnovers in the game resulting in 12 points for the Roadrunners.
 
Ramapo returns to action on Saturday, February 7th when they host NJAC rival Richard Stockton College at 3pm at the Bradley Center.