Ramapo College MBB gets back on winning track with victory over NJCU

The Ramapo College Roadrunners Men’s Basketball Team(13-4, 7-3 NJAC) got back on the winning track in a hard-fought 70-63 victory over the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights(11-6, 6-4 NJAC) at the Bradley Center(Ramapo College of New Jersey) in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Peter Gorman scored a game-high 25 points, Jordan Myers contributed 18 points, and Shane Rooney tallied 13 points.

“Jersey City is going to make the game a street fight and we came out and gave them a good punch but we didn’t knock them out,” Ramapo College Head Coach Chuck McBreen explained. “The next thing you know they floored us and it just became haymakers the rest of the way as it is between football teams and at the end found a way to make one or two more plays than they did.”

Ramapo quickly jumped out to a 12-2 lead not even five minutes into the first half. The Roadrunners continued to pile it on as time elapsed as the margin grew to 22-5 at the nine-minute stage. Peter Gorman buried back-to-back trifectas, which increased his score to ten points.

“It felt good to be playing at home and we played at Stockton then Rowan this past Saturday,” Peter Gorman described. “It’s nice to be in our own environment and atmosphere and in the same gym practicing every day.” “We love our gym, rims and get to play our own game.”

Ramapo firing on all cylinders as the margin widened to 29-5 with less than seven minutes remaining. The Roadrunners shooting a sizzling 59 percent, dominating points in the paint 16-0, 14-1 in fast break points, and 10-1 points off turnovers.

However, the Gothic Knights ignited a rebuttal by hitting consecutive triples and then going on an 8-0 run to cut the gap to 29-13 with five and a half minutes left.

“I don’t know what the time was, but I subbed, and we were up 29-5 and they buried two trifectas in a row,” Head Coach Chuck McBreen noted. “Out of a timeout I ripped into them and everyone in the building could hear it.” “I don’t know if I rushed quick judgment, but I didn’t let the guys play through it stop the bleeding.” “Putting back the starters in didn’t help and Jersey City did it with their subs.”

New Jersey City kept the pressure mounting as they ended the last six minutes and forty seconds of the first half on a 24-6 spurt that trimmed the deficit to 35-29 at halftime despite Ramapo shooting 53 percent and Peter Gorman totaling 16 points.

“I was very upset with the effort when we got outscored in the last seven and half minutes 24-6 and not a happy camper and lit into them,” Head Coach Chuck McBreen stated. “The fact we let them come back and I was more surprised we were able to get up 29-5 on them but they’re up at the top for a reason.” “I told them it’s back to 0-0 and just go out there and win the second half.”

In the second half, a physical game featuring plenty of hard fouls and injuries led to an additional brief altercation that resulted in technical fouls assessed. The injuries included [specific injuries and players involved].

Both teams ended up mainly at the free-throw line and shooting the ball very effectively. Ramapo knocked down 18 of 24 shots, while the Gothic Knights converted 14 of 18.

“It’s always important to bring the intensity and physicality and can’t back down when a team is trying to bump you,” Shane Rooney expressed. “You can’t get bullied at the end of the day and just got to keep playing hard and git it one hundred percent.”

“We just had to take what they gave us, and they sent us to the line, and we had to capitalize on that and make out free throws to put us in a good situation.”

The Roadrunners managed to bump the lead back up to 43-35 on a layup by Jordan Myers at the 15-and-a-half-minute juncture, with Myers reaching double figures at ten points.

Once again, New Jersey City refused to throw in the towel as they crept within four points, but Ramapo withstood the late push by sinking seven free throws in the last four and half minutes to hold on for the win.

Ramapo’s determination to maintain their winning streak is evident as they prepare to face Rutgers-Camden(7-9, 2-8 NJAC) at the Bradley Center on Saturday, January 25th at 3 p.m. The team is focused on the present game, fully aware of the challenges ahead.

“We’re only looking at the next game and not looking ahead,” Head Coach Chuck McBreen said. “At the end of the day Rutgers-Camden is a good team and even though they’re record might not show it people say otherwise, and they beat us last year at their place by three.” “If we don’t come out and play hard and give an effort for 40 minutes we’re going to be in a dogfight.” “It’s really down to a seven team playoff situation so somebody’s not going to make the playoffs and I just hope it’s not us.”

Peter Gorman on the upcoming match-up against Rutgers-Camden: “We’re taking it one game at a time, against them, and taking care of business. We can’t look over anybody because in the NJAC, you can get caught any night.”

“It’s very important for all of us because not a single one of us has won a conference championship and that’s the goal when we came into our college careers so every game matters right now because we’re trying to get the one or two seed and get a bye and have a home game in the semifinals and put ourselves in the best position to do so.”