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Ewing, NJ…The College of New Jersey men's basketball team will host a semi-final match-up in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday night at 7:00 pm. The Lions closed out the year with an 18-7 record, going 14-4 in the conference to secure the second seed. Their opponent will be the third seed Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University. NJCU, now holding an overall record of 20-6 and 13-5 conference record. The Gothic Knights defeated Stockton University 97-87 on Saturday night to advance to the contest.

The first 200 TCNJ students in attendance at the game will receive a free white T-Shirt as part of the team's White Out promotion.

This marks the third consecutive year that these two teams will meet in the NJAC playoff tournament. After the 2014-15 season, the sixth-seeded Gothic Knights defeated the third-seeded Lions 74-60 in Packer Hall. After the 2015-16 year, the fifth seed TCNJ defeated the top seed NJCU 92-82 in Jersey City.

Senior Bobby Brackett (Lawrenceville, NJ / Lawrence) led this season's iteration of the squad in scoring (15.9 ppg) in addition to topping the NJAC in rebounding (10.1 rpg). Classmate Corey Stanford (Pittsburgh, PA / Penn Trafford) has been a welcome face in the line-up, finishing second on the team in scoring (14.5 ppg) and second in the conference on the glass (8.5 rpg). Stanford was also the only Lion to remain in the starting line-up for all 25 games. Junior Eric Murdock, Jr. (Bridgewater, NJ / Bridgewater) topped the NJAC in assists (5.6 apg), while also contributing double-digit points (13.1 ppg). Senior Eric Klacik (Basking Ridge, NJ / Ridge) was the fourth Lion to average double-figures (11.4 ppg). No other team in the conference had more than three players averaging over 10 points per contest.

As a team, the Lions finished best in the NJAC in free-throw percentage (.735) and defensive rebounding percentage (.762). TCNJ was 16-2 this season when out-rebounding their opponents, 13-1 when allowing 69 or fewer points, and finished 7-0 when recording four or more blocks.

The Gothic Knights counter with one of the top defenses in the country, allowing just 63.4 points per game during the regular season, ninth best in the country. The team was also seventh in the nation in steals per game (11.6 spg) and turnover margin ( 6.4). NJCU allowed opponents to shoot 28.5% from beyond the arc, third best in the country. Offensively, the Gothic Knights are led by Jalen Harris, who ranks third in the conference in scoring (17.5 ppg). Six time NJAC Rookie of the Week Sam Toney also averages double-figures (11.6 ppg). Chinwe Wosu ranks second in the NJAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.9 orpg).

The third meeting between these two teams will serve as the rubber match. The Gothic Knights topped the Lions in a defensive battle, 54-52 in Jersey City on December 10th. On January 28th, TCNJ responded with a 75-69 win led by 22 points from Brackett.

TCNJ is looking for their first conference tournament championship since the 1997-98 season, while NJCU last took home the title after the 2010-11 season.

Tickets for all 2017 NJAC Tournament games are $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children, students, and senior citizens.