Box Score

Ewing, NJ … Freshman Eric Klacik (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) nailed a long three-point shot with 33 seconds remaining in overtime to ice a critical win for The College of New Jersey as they defeated Rutgers University-Camden 70-66 in Packer Hall on Monday night.

Leading by a point, Klacik took a feed on the right side from junior Jayson Johnson (Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) and fired a line drive that hit nothing but net, allowing TCNJ to snap a six-game skid and remain in the playoff hunt.

The victory produces a five-way tie for fifth place in the NJAC standings with three games to play. The Lions, Rowan University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, and Montclair State University all own 6-9 records in the conference. Two of those squads will qualify for the NJAC championship tournament.

TCNJ (8-14) received another big performance from sophomore Bobby Brackett (Lawrence, NJ/Lawrence) as he collected a career-high 21 rebounds to go with 14 points. Junior Skyelar Ettin (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) led all scorers with 23 points. Johnson finished with 11 points, all of them coming from the free throw line.

The Scarlet Raptors dropped to 4-18 overall and 2-13 in the NJAC. Junior Alex Smart (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) was a force for RUC as he tallied 22 points and grabbed eight boards. Junior Teon Russell (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) registered a double double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

TCNJ led the majority of the opening period. Ettin was aggressive in the lane early on. He scored 10 of the team's first 15 points to give the Lions an offensive spark. Brackett was dominant on the defensive end of the floor, snaring 11 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

A late charge by the Scarlet Raptors resulted in a 33-30 lead at the break. They mounted a 15-5 run over the final six minutes, capped by a Tom Heim (Mulica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) layup at the buzzer. Smart poured in 11 of his team-high 22 points in the opening period.

RUC stretched its lead to seven early in the second half, but an 8-0 run by the Lions capped by a Brackett layup enabled TCNJ to regain the lead at 43-42.

With less than four minutes to play, the Scarlet Raptors closed the gap to two points when Smart dropped in a 15-foot jumper. Brackett hit both free throws to push the lead back to four, but a John Tatem (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) jumpshot from the corner followed by a three-point dagger from Steve Schneider (Berlin, NJ/Easter Regional) gave RUC a 60-59 lead with 1:20 to play.

Junior Alex Fox (Washington, NJ/Westwood) drove the lane and was fouled with 1:04 remaining. He hit the first free throw to tie the match a 60. Neither team could convert on the final three possessions of regulation, forcing the game into overtime.


Fox hit a huge three-point shot with 2:05 remaining in overtime to put the Lions ahead 63-61. The basket also broke a drought of over 11 minutes without a field goal for TCNJ. A free throw by Ettin gave the Lions a three-point advantage, but Tatem struck again from the outside to the cut the deficit to 64-63. He finished with 10 points.

Klacik then responded with his clutch 3-pointer to set up a big match with Rowan on Wednesday night.

The double double for Brackett was his 16^th of the season, which ranks third nationally.

The Lions are back in Packer Hall on Wednesday when they square off against the Profs at 8 p.m. RUC hosts Richard Stockton College on Wednesday at 8 p.m.