January 29, 2013

Jay Gomes
NJHoops.com Editor

Not reaching the NCAA Tournament does not usually mean the year is a disappointment. A strong regular season and or league tournament run is an accomplishment in itself. The success and momentum generated this season can always be used as a springboard for even greater success the following season.

NJHoops.com will review and update the status of the small college schools, especially those having the most success and the best chance of making the NCAA Tournament. The percentages listed by the top schools names are NJ Hoops predictions on the chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Going forward this season the Small College Report Card will be posted on Tuesdays. Some teams have started play this weekend while almost everyone will be in action by next week. This is after eleven weeks of the season.

Bloomfield (10-9 overall; 8-3 Central Athletic Collegiate Conference) 25%

The Week Past: So. guard Marvin Williams (Marist HS - NJ Hoops #58 Class of 2011) led all Bloomfield College scorers with 23 points in a 81-76 victory over Concordia. Dropped a 69-64 road decision to Holy Family. So. guard Matt Hall (Brooklyn NY) was the top scorer for Bloomfield, totaling 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Week Ahead: Play at Nyack Tuesday. Philly U comes to Bloomfield Saturday,

Where They're At: Two games behind Dominican in the CACC North standings. Have a game lead over Post. The top teams in each division make the post-season league tournament.

Ramapo (18-2 overall; 12-1 in New Jersey Athletic Conference) 65%

The Week Past: Sr. Will Sanborn (Red Bank HS - NJ Hoops #71 Class of 2008) scored his 1,000th career point in a 70-55 win over Kean. Held on to escape with a 73-72 road win over The College of New Jersey. Sr. guard Anthony LoRusso (Don Bosco - NJ Hoops #94 Class of 2008) led the Roadrunners with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

The Week Ahead: A pair of home games on tap. Montclair State comes in on Wednesday and Rowan on Saturday.

Where They're At: Ranked 10th nationally. Have a two game lead over Stockton with two weeks left. Leading the NJAC in scoring at 77.8 ppg.

Stevens Tech (15-3 overall; 8-2 in Empire 8) 35%

The Week Past: Fell to Hartwick 63-56. Sr. Russ Thompson (West Orange - NJ Hoops #99 Class of 2009) hit five three-pointers to finish with 20 points. Suffered a 80-69 loss at Ithaca. So. forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield HS - NJ Hoops #95 Class of 2010) led all scorers with 21 points and also grabbed 9 rebounds. Topped Elmira 64-48. Sr. Sheldon Jones (Queens NY) notched a game-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

The Week Ahead: Two home games. Hartwick comes in on Tuesday and Utica on Friday.

Where They're At: After an eight game winning streak, lost two of their last three. In 2nd place in league a game and a half behind Ithaca. The top 4 teams make the league tournament. Ranked 20th nationally.

Stockton (15-4 overall; 10-3 in NJAC) 35%

The Week Past: Shut down the College of NJ 58-38. 6-foot-2 So. Josh Blamon (Cinnaminson HS - NJ Hoops #86 Class of 2011) was the only player in double figures for either team, scoring 10 points. Took three overtime periods but came away with a hard-fought 87-78 victory over Rutgers-Newark. 6-foot So. Jesse Hunt (Freehold Boro) led the Ospreys with 18 points, including 9 in the third OT.

The Week Ahead: Two road contests coming up. At a hot New Jersey City Wednesday. Play at Montclair State Saturday.

Where They're At: Alone in second place in the NJAC, two games behind Ramapo and two games ahead of three teams. Only 2-2 in their last four games however. Lead NJAC in turnover margin, +4.4 per game.

Rowan (15-5 overall; 8-5 in New Jersey Athletic Conference) 25%

The Week Past: Secured a 75-64 win over Rutgers Camden. Led by Sr. guard Kendall White (Rancocas Valley HS) with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Thwarted William Paterson 74-64. Guard Phil Jackson (Lenape) led Rowan with a season-high 18 points. Overcame Valley Forge Christian as Sr. guard Fred Battee (Gloucester CC/Deptford HS) notched a career-high 21 points, including five three-pointers.

The Week Ahead: Kean comes to Glassboro Wednesday. Travel to first place Ramapo Saturday.

Where They're At: On a five game winning streak. In a three way tie for 3rd place in the conference. Lead the NJAC in three's/game and assist to turnover ratio.

Rutgers Newark (14-6 overall; 8-5 in New Jersey Athletic Conference) 25%

The Week Past: A pair of tough losses. Fell to New Jersey City, 51-50, on a buzzer beating jumper. Fr. David Azoroh (Ewing HS - NJ Hoops #71 Class of 2012) came off the bench to lead the Raiders with a dozen points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Battled into three overtimes, but trimmed by Richard Stockton 87-78. The loss overshadowed a career-high 28-point explosion by So. Christian Garcia (Freehold Boro - NJ Hoops #69 Class of 2010) who also tallied 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

The Week Ahead: William Paterson comes to Newark Wednesday. Travel to the College of NJ Saturday.

Where They're At: Lost three of last four in all heartbreaking fashion. In a three way tie for 3rd place in the conference. 2nd in the NJAC in FG% (45.4%) and 1st in fg% defense (37.6%).

William Paterson (13-7 overall; 8-5 in New Jersey Athletic Conference) 25%

The Week Past: Sr. Lance Brown (Paterson Catholic - NJ Hoops #7 Class of 2009) paced the Pioneers with 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 60-43 win over Montclair State. Couldn't hold off visiting Rowan 74-64. Fr. guard/forward Terik Bridgeman's (Nia Prep/Hackensack HS - NJ Hoops #9 Postgrad Class of 2012) had his eighth double-double of the season with team bests of 17 points and 15 rebounds.

The Week Ahead: Play at Rutgers Newark Wednesday. New Jersey City comes to Wayne Saturday.

Where They're At: Have won 9 of last 11. In a three way tie for 3rd place in the conference. 2nd in the league in offensive rebounding.

MORE TEAM NOTES:

Division 2

Caldwell (6-13, 2-8 in CACC) Earned a 78-64 win over Nyack. So. guard Wyatt Polk (Haddonfield HS - NJ Hoops #50 Class of 2011) turned in a solid all-around performance with 22 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.

Felician (6-12, 4-7 in CAAC) Lost to University of Sciences 85-73. Sr. swingman Antoine Obery (Roselle HS) posted 16 points, 16 rebounds (7 offensive) and 3 assists in 29 minutes for his seventh double-double of 2012-13.

Division 3 - NJAC Schools

College of NJ (5-15, 3-10 in NJAC) Put a serious scare into 11th-ranked Ramapo but the Roadrunners held on to escape with a 73-72 win. So. Jayson Johnson (Life Center - NJ Hoops #67 Class of 2011) netted a career-high 24 points to lead TCNJ.

Kean (6-14, 5-8 in NJAC) Lost to New Jersey City University 66-55. Jr. Mike Burton (South Plainfield) led all players with 26 points.

Montclair State (7-13, 3-10 in NJAC) Fr. forward Kevin McGorry (Rutherford HS) scored 12 of his team-best 19 points in the second half as Montclair State overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half and won its second straight game beating College of Staten Island, 78-73.

New Jersey City (9-11, 4-9 in NJAC) Less than three days after hitting the biggest shot of his young career to beat Rutgers-Newark at the buzzer, four-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week Fr. Khalid Muhammad (Orange HS - NJ Hoops #48 Class of 2012) had another decisive performance, matching his career-high with 24 points, including 15 in the second half as NJCU vaulted back into playoff contention with a critical 66-55 victory over Kean.

Rutgers Camden (7-13, 4-9 in NJAC) Lost to Montclair State 76-62. Sr. guard Yusuf Leary (Portland, OR/Lincoln) paced the Scarlet Raptors with 14 points.

Other Division 3 Schools

Berkeley (10-9) Beat Vaughn 94-67.

Centenary (10-10, 7-6 in CSAC) Edged Gwynedd-Mercy 76-75. Sr. Warren Murphy (Ridgefield Park HS) and Sr. Max Hughes (Notre Dame Green Pond HS PA) led the way for the Cyclones with 16 points each.

Drew (9-10, 3-5 in Landmark Conference) Lost to Susquehanna 75-66. Fr. Mike Klinger (Rutgers Prep - NJ Hoops #66 Class of 2011) was the high-man for the Rangers with 17 points while shooting 5-8 from the field and a blistering 5-6 from three-point range.

FDU Florham (9-10, 4-3 in Freedom Conference) With the game tied at 63-63 and under a minute to go in regulation, Jr. forward Will Green (Cranford HS) sank four free throws to help FDU beat Rosemont 67-63. Green finished the game with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Previews on all 43 NJ Colleges in the October NJ Hoops Newsletter.

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