JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The TCNJ men's basketball team finished off an unbeaten road week in style on Saturday, controlling play throughout a 72-57 NJAC victory at New Jersey City.
David Alexandre led all scorers with 17 points,
Jack Vreeswyk nearly matched him with 16, and
Matthew Solomon put up another double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) as the Lions won for the third straight game and seventh in their last eight.
FOR THE RECORD
- TCNJ moved to 14-4 overall and 8-3 in the NJAC, while NJCU slipped to 5-13 and 2-9, respectively. With Stockton's loss to Ramapo, the Lions are now tied for first place in the league standings
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Gothic Knights scored on the game's opening possession, but that was their only lead of the day as Jason Larranaga's 3-pointer gave TCNJ the upper hand for good at 5-2
- Five quick points by Matthew Okorie increased the spurt to 10-0, and the Lions began to break away when Vreeswyk connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 26-16 halfway through the frame
- Leading by eight at the break (38-30), the Lions watched NJCU cut the lead to four (40-36) before consecutive treys by Vreeswyk and James Beckwith extended the margin to 49-38. After Solomon sandwiched four points around a bucket by Anthony Milligan, the margin had swelled to 17 (55-38) with 13:41 to go
- TCNJ grabbed a 20-point lead (63-43) on back-to-back field goals from Okorie and Solomon, and an 11-1 run to get within 64-54 at the 5:58 mark was as close as the Gothic Knights got
FOR THE FOES
- Avante Gilbert had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds
STANDOUT LIONS
- Alexandre was terrific in the starting point guard role, pairing 17 points with seven rebounds and four assists. He also blocked three shots and swiped two steals
- Vreeswyk knocked down four of the Lions' seven 3-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds
- Solomon was 5-for-7 from the field en route to his ninth double-double of the year
- Okorie wound up just shy of his own double-double with 11 points and nine boards, plus four assists
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- TCNJ shot 40.3 percent from the field and just 7-for-24 from long range, but dished out 15 assists to just 10 turnovers and held NJCU to 0-for-10 from 3-point range
- The Lions held a 44-37 edge on the glass
NOTES
- The Lions' current three-game winning streak in the series matches their longest since at least 2000
- Solomon surpassed 300 career rebounds
UP NEXT
- The Lions are back home on Wednesday to take on Rowan in a huge NJAC tilt
