Box Score

 Jersey City, NJ … The College of New Jersey men's basketball team fought back from an 11-point deficit in the final minutes of the game, but fell to New Jersey City University 66-62 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play.
 
The Lions (4-11, 2-7 NJAC) cut the lead to one point with 23 seconds remaining on a layup by sophomore Emmanuel Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury), but the Gothic Knights (6-9, 2-7 NJAC) converted three foul shots in the final seconds to secure the victory.
 
Junior Alex Fox (Washington, NJ/Westwood) netted a team-high 14 points as four Lions reached double digits in scoring. Senior William Lester (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) hit a trio of three-pointers to tally a career-high 12 points. Sophomore Jayson Johnson (Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) and junior Matthew Rista (Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony's) each added 10 points.
 
NJCU's Drew Marley led all scorers with 16 points, while Dakwan Simmons and Khalid Muhammad chipped in with 13 points apiece. Asmar Edwards had a well-rounded game with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
 
The Lions trailed at the intermission 30-27. The Gothic Knights scored the first three baskets of the game and never relinquished that lead until Lester drained his first three-point bucket of the contest to tie the game at 217. NJCU's Muhammad converted a layup and free throw to give the host a small cushion at the half.
 
The Gothic Knights hit their first four shots of the second half and built an 11-point lead by its midpoint. Down 59-48 with just over five minutes to play, the Lions went on an 8-1 run that included another three-point field goal by Lester. Freshman Mitch Miller (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) found the bottom of the net minutes later to pull the Lions within three with 1:57 to play.
 
Johnson stole the ball with 23 seconds remaining, passed to Lester who dished to Matlock for a layup to draw within a point at 63-62. TCNJ fouled with 14 ticks left on the clock and Simmons hit both free throws. After a missed three-point attempt, the Lions had to foul with five seconds left and Marley hit his first foul shot to the put game out of reach.
 
Miller led TCNJ with five boards and Johnson finished with a season-high five steals and six assists.
 
The Lions return home to take on league opponent William Paterson University this Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Packer Hall. The Pioneers (9-5, 6-3 NJAC) got the best of the Lions in the season-opener in Wayne, NJ.