Mahwah, NJ: The New Jersey City University men's basketball team held on for a two-point road win to open NJAC play over Ramapo College tonight, 66-64. The Gothic Knights move to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners now stand at 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
The game featured 11 lead changes and 8 ties, while the Gothic Knights held off a Ramapo comeback in the final five minutes of the game. NJCU saw themselves up six with 2:46 on the clock before some intense defense forced turnovers on both sides over the next two plus minutes of action.
Elijah Barlow sank a jumper with 37 seconds remaining before the Roadrunners forced a key turnover by NJCU on the ensuing inbounds play. With 25 seconds on the clock, Enoch Hutchison sank a big three-pointer for the Roadrunners off a dish from
Tyrell Murchison. Following a Ramapo timeout, Brince Shelton recorded one of two from the free throw line giving Ramapo the ball back with 22 seconds remaining. The Roadrunners were able to get a shot off which was deflected out of bounds as possession was given back to Ramapo with 3.7 remaining. A last second shot from the Roadrunners was heavily contested as time ran out seeing the Gothic Knights hold on for the NJAC road victory by two, 66-64.
Brince Shelton led the way for NJCU with 18 points while Bakhi Rogers-Robinson posted 13 points and seven rebounds. Donovan Crawford contributed with eight rebounds and 11 points. The team shot 39% (23-58) from the field, 23% (3-13) from the three-point line and 73% (17-23) from the free throw line.
For the Roadrunners,
Nahum Lewis recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists while Barlow posted 15 points and three rebounds. Murchison and Hutchinson each contributed with ten points while Murchison added a team high eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Jalen Thomas contributed with seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two assists while
Orion Mickens added five rebounds and three blocks in the game. The team shot 41% (23-56) from the field, 21% (3-14) from the three-point line and 68% (15-22) from the free throw line. The Roadrunners forced 18 NJCU turnovers which led to 22 points for the Roadrunners.
Ramapo returns to action on Wednesday, December 3rd when they travel to Kean University for a NJAC conference game at 7:35 PM.
