Mahwah, NJ: The New Jersey City University men's basketball team held off a Ramapo College comeback today at the Bradley Center as the Gothic Knights came away with a 57-55 win. The Roadrunners move to 4-15 overall, 3-11 in the NJAC while NJCU is now 11-11 overall and 8-7 in the conference.
Ramapo opened the game with
Mansfield Warren sinking a three-pointer and layup back-to-back to give the Roadrunners a 5-0 lead. NJCU would then go on a 15-3 run that included three three-pointers to take a 15-8 lead with 12:30 on the clock. Ramapo then cut the lead to just one, 20-21, with 9:02 on the clock with a 12-6 run capped off with a jumper from
Peter Gorman. Gorman would start a 10-6 run with a jumper at 9:02 before Ben Todd and
Jordan Myers traded baskets. Following a free throw from Denzel Banks,
Anthony Corbo and
Shane Rooney posted back-to-back baskets for the Roadrunners to take a 26-24 lead with 3:14 on the clock. Banks would counter with a three-pointer before Myers added a jumper with 1:43 on the clock for a 28-27 lead. Feliz Romero made one of two free throws to score the final point of the half as the two teams were tied, 28-28.
Gorman, Myers and Rooney each tallied jump shots to start the second half for a mini 6-0 run as the Roadrunners took a 34-29 lead. A 16-6 run from NJCU gave them a 44-40 lead with 12:25 on the clock. Gorman and Todd each tallied two points for their teams before Gorman sank a pair of free throws as NJCU held a 46-44 lead. NJCU went on a mini 8-4 run to take a 54-48 lead with 6:26 on the clock before Ramapo's Kindel added a pair of free throws and Rooney sank a jumper to come within two, 52-54 with 4:27 left. Derryen White recorded one free throw for NJCU before an and-one play from Rooney tied the game with 3:16 on the clock, 55-55. Banks would record a tip-in with 1:11 on the clock, which proved to be the game-winning basket for NJCU.
Banks led NJCU with 23 points including 4-7 from the three-point line while he added 11 rebounds for the double double. He also posted four assists, one blocked shot and two steals. Todd contributed with 14 points, three rebounds and two blocked shots. The Gothic Knights shot 44% (21-47) from the field, 46% (6-13) from the three-point line and 56% (9-16) from the free throw line.
Rooney and Gorman led the team with 15 points each while Gorman added five assists, two rebounds and two steals. Ronney added four rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot. Myers posted ten points, six rebounds and two steals while Corbo led the team with 11 rebounds while he added four points. The Roadrunners shot 37% (21-56) from the field, 40% (2-5) from the three-point line and 68% (11-16) from the free throw line.
Ramapo returns to action when they travel to the College of New Jersey on Wednesday, Feb. 9
th for a 8pm NJAC game.
