New Jersey City University

NJCU (3-1) led from the 17:48 mark of the first half on and forced an opponent to commit at least 20 turnovers for the fourth consecutive game to open the year. The Bears (1-5) dropped their fourth in a row. NJCU leads the series, 3-0.

 

Lopez shot 5-of-9, including 2-of-4 from three-point distance, bringing his career three-point field goal mark to 120. He chipped in five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

 

Three players reached double figures for NJCU. Sophomore center TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) collected 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes while rookie small forward WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) tallied 10 points (5-10 FG) in 16 minutes.

 

Also for NJCU, freshman power forward ISAIAH JOHNSON (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) finished with eight points (4-6 FG) in 11 reserve minutes while freshman power forward TERRENCE DOCTOR (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy) plugged in seven points (3-5 FG) and four rebounds in 14 minutes. Junior power forward TOM McDERMOTT (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) added six rebounds and three blocks in 18 minutes.

 

The Bears top scorer was sophomore guard Antoine Forehand (Manhattan, NY/Rice), who slapped together 12 points (4-12 FG, 4-7 FT) while junior forward Jon Matzelle (Maspeth, NY/St. Francis Prep) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds (eight defensive) with six points. Freshman guard Cesar Madera (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) had seven points (5-7 FT) off the bench.

 

NJCU, which hadn’t held an opponent beneath 38 percent shooting this year, limited the Bears to 15-of-49, a rate of 30.6 percent. As a team, the Knights shot better than 40 percent for the third time, making 28-of-69 (.406). NJCU out-rebounded the opposition, 50-38, including 21-10 on the offensive glass. The Knights also had a 15-4 edge in fast-break points and 23-9 in scoring off turnovers.

 

NJCU took control of the game early. After SJC scored first, the Knights bagged the next nine points, including a triple by Lopez to make it 9-2. The Bears cut it to 9-6 before a 14-1 spurt put NJCU into double figures, leading 23-10 on a Doctor jumper with 7:46 remaining in the period. Johnson had all eight of his points during the run. NJCU led by 17 at the break (35-18) and was never challenged in the second half, as its second and third team saw quality minutes and continued to add to the margin built by the starters. The Knights led by as many as 27 points (67-40) in the second half, en route to victory.

NJCU will face a tough non-conference home test from 2008-09 NCAA sectional finalist Farmingdale State College on Thursday, December 3 at 8 p.m. St. Joe’s hosts Lehman College on Saturday, December 5 at 6 p.m.