Jersey City, NJ:  The New Jersey City University men's basketball team defeated Ramapo College 86-71 tonight in NJAC conference action. The Gothic Knights improve to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference while the Roadrunners now stand at 10-5 overall and 4-4 in the NJAC.
 
The Roadrunners got on the board in the first half when Rob Lewis collected an offensive rebound and slammed down a dunk for the quick 2-0 lead. The two teams traded baskets before Ramapo took a 10-5 lead with a mini 6-0 run capped off with a made basket from Kashaun Barnes with just about 15 minutes on the clock. A made free throw from Matt Latka put Ramapo up 13-7 before NJCU and Ramapo traded baskets 15-9 with 13:34 on the clock. The Gothic Knights went on a 9-1 run to take an 18-16 lead with less than nine minutes left in the half. Rob McWilliams tied the game 18-18 on a pair of free throws before NJCU extended their lead to nine 29-20 as James Julius sank a three-pointer with six minutes on the clock off a dish from Yuri Brutus. NJCU would take their first double digit lead of the game 35-24 on a jumper from Shaquan Worthy. Ramapo cut the lead to 35-27 as Latka made a jumper and McWilliams converted on a free throw with less than three minutes left in the half. NJCU would outscore Ramapo 11-2 in the final minutes as NJCU went into the locker room up 46-29.
 
A three-pointer from Sam Toney extended the NJCU lead to 21 in the first two minutes of the second half before a three-pointer from Barnes and a jumper from Battle cut the lead to 16 with 17:35 left to play. The two teams traded baskets before NJCU went on an 11-2 run for a 25-point lead 69-44 on a pair of free throws from James Richardson with less than 13 minutes on the clock. NJCU would hold an 84-57 lead with 5:48 left in the game on a three-pointer from Keshawn Alexander before Ramapo ended the game on a 14-2 run. Naseer Walker started the run hitting one of two free throws while Bryant Quill capped off the run with a three-pointer to shrink the NJCU lead to 13 in the final five minutes of action. NJCU's Salomon Pierre recorded the final points of the night as the Gothic Knights earned an 86-71 victory.
 
Three players scored in double figures for the Roadrunners as they were led Barnes with 15 points, including his 1,000th career point with 8:22 left in the game. Barnes also tallied six rebounds and one assist in the game while Jason Battle tallied 14 points finishing 6-6 from the free throw line while he also contributed with two assists and one steal. Lewis posted 11 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block in the game. The Roadrunners shot 45% (24-53) from the field, 28% (2-7) from the three-point line and 70% (21-30) from the free throw line in the game. The Ramapo defense forced ten NJCU turnovers which led to nine points for the Roadrunners.
 
NJCU were led by Toney who recorded 17 points while Julius contributed with 14 points and nine rebounds. Denzel Banks tallied 12 points and Lavrone Green contributed with ten points. The Gothic Knights shot 38% (33-85) from the field, 29% (9-31) from the three-point line and 73% (11-15) from the free throw line. NJCU forced 17 Ramapo turnovers which led to 19 points for the Gothic Knights.
 
Ramapo returns to action on Saturday at the Bradley Center when they host NJAC rival William Paterson University at 3pm.