Box score
Allentown, PA... If Jay Frank (Brick, NJ/Brick) wasn't draining shots from the perimeter, Aaron Syvertsen (Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) was knocking shots down from three-point land as the sharpshooting seniors led The College of New Jersey men's basketball team to a 93-85 victory over Muhlenberg College.
Frank poured in a season-high 29 points while Syversten matched his career-high with 27 as the Lions (4-1) captured their third road win of the season. TCNJ shot an impressive 40 percent from behind the three-point arc, largely in thanks to the second half shooting of Syversten. He scorched the Mules for five, long-range jumpers in the second period and was 7-for-13 on three-point attempts for the night.
After suffering their first loss of the season to Albright College three days ago, Frank put his teammates on his back to open the game. He scored the teams' first 12 points of the contest as the Lions took command early and controlled the better part of the first half. Muhlenberg fought back as TCNJ's lead never grew larger than five points. The Mules took the lead 30-29 with 5:12 remaining and the lead changed hands a total of nine times before the intermission. Syvertsen's three-pointer with 2:18 remaining put the Lions up for good as they closed the opening half holding a 45-42 advantage.
Both teams traded baskets to start the second half, before TCNJ went on an 11-0 run to take 64-47 lead. The Lions defense didn't allow a point for just under six minutes. TCNJ never allowed Muhlenberg (1-2) to pull closer than seven points the remainder of the game and secured their fourth win of the year.
Senior Will Manhart (Hillsborough, NJ/Immaculata) had a big second half scoring nine of his career-high 11 points in the closing 20 minutes. Chris Schoenbeck (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) had a career-high eight rebounds. Al Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) also had a productive second half and chipped in with a season-high 10 points.
Senior Obi Nwizugbo (Roselle, NJ/Union Catholic) led the Mules with 16 points while sophomore teammate Spencer Liddic (Clarks Summit, PA/Abbington Heights) dropped in 15. Senior guard Ryan Foster (Newton, PA/Council Rock North), who finished with 14 points, made things interesting late when his three-pointer cut the lead to 87-80, but the Mules were unable to close the gap in time and dropped their second game of the season. Center Peter Barnes (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) had a game-high 14 rebounds and 13 points.
Syvertsen tied his career-high with 27 points. The last time he tallied 27 was January 14, 2009 against conference rival Rowan University.
The men's basketball team visits Centenary College on Saturday, November 28 at 2:00 pm before returning home to open New Jersey Athletic Conference play against Rowan University on Wednesday, December 2 at 8 pm.
