By Julie Kayzerman '16

Before taking the court, Eric Murdock Jr. warms up with a quick game of mine sweeper and some Kendrick Lamar. It keeps him focused enough so that when he pulls his jersey – his favorite number 22, for his birthday on February 2-- over his head to lead The College of New Jersey basketball team, he's ready.

The sophomore guard is currently dominating the New Jersey Athletic Conference, leading the league in assists (103), free throw percentage (.890) and three-point field goal percentage (.458). Murdock Jr. currently ranks third in points per game at 19.7 – a massive leap from his rookie season when he averaged eight points per contest.

Yet, for him, it's all about having fun.

"We take basketball very seriously, but what (the former captains) taught us is we can also have fun while we're doing it," Murdock Jr. said. "I think that separates our team from most teams out there because we're able to just have fun … and just appreciate the opportunity we have to be on a basketball team at the collegiate level."

It's that fun-loving team chemistry that attracted Murdock Jr. to play for TCNJ in the first place.

"When I visited and saw the team…their record wasn't that good, but how they interacted with each together was amazing," he recalls. "You just felt that the team chemistry was very real. It felt like home."

It's no surprise that Murdock Jr. took up basketball, having a father who played the sport professionally. But when Head Coach Matthew Goldsmith challenged him to step into a larger role this season, Murdock Jr. has responded by exceeding all expectations.

"(The coaching staff) thought I could handle the challenge of taking a bigger responsibility than the role I had my freshman year and I responded pretty well," Murdock Jr. said. "My teammates have the utmost trust in me and they always keep encouraging me to get better. It helps a lot, especially when you transition into a more significant role, to have people that are supportive around you."

According to Goldsmith, Murdock Jr. focuses more on facilitating team chemistry than on his individual game. He often drags guys to the gym or goes out of his way to make sure the new walk-on teammates are fitting in.

"Obviously right now, he's our best player and I think that's pretty clear to anyone who watches the game," Goldsmith said. "But what people may not know is that he's actually our hardest worker as well."

Even off the court, Murdock Jr. doesn't have to look too far for more support. He knows his dad will be in the bleachers cheering him on at every game – in fact, it's the only voice he tends to hear from the crowd.

"He's like my personal trainer and always encouraged me to get shots up," Murdock Jr. said. "I wouldn't be at this point without him."

Now, Murdock Jr. hopes to lead the Lions (11-6) to an NJAC championship. And he says as long as they advance to the playoffs, anything's possible with this squad – a group of players with the same objective, which is to win at all costs.

"No matter who we play against, we're going to play TCNJ basketball," said Murdock Jr. "No matter what the results are, we're going to give 100 percent. Teams are going to respect the way we played and how tough we played them.

"It really is a privilege to represent TCNJ right now, and we take great pride in it," he said. "We play for pride, and we play for fun because this game is fun."

* TCNJ basketball plays in Packer Hall tonight (Wednesday), hosting NJAC foe Stockton University. The women's game begins at 6 p.m. followed by the men's game slated for 8 p.m.