New York, N.Y. — The John Jay men’s basketball team fell to New Jersey City University (NJCU) 81-70 at the Doghouse on Monday evening.
Alex Valerio (Flushing, NY/ Francis Lewis) led the Bloodhounds with 17 points in the loss while pulling down five rebounds.
Matt Collins (Glendale, NY/ Christ the King) and Kelvin Luna (Corona, NY/ Flushing) chipped in with 14 a piece, while Dustin Yeates (Brooklyn, NY/ South Side) had 12 points in the loss.
The Bloodhounds led most of the way in the first half and had a lead as big as seven (29-22) with just over five minutes remaining. But NJCU answered with a 7-0 run to tie the game.
After John Jay reclaimed the lead, NJCU ended the half on an 11-3 run over the final three minutes capped by a buzzer beating lay-up by Abraham Williams (Jersey City, NJ/ Lincoln) to go into the locker room with their biggest lead of the half (40-34).
John Jay would keep the contest close but never take the lead. The Bloodhounds were down three on a foul shot by Valerio early in the second half. But NJCU went on an 11-4 run to take a double-digit lead.
The Gothic Knights kept the Bloodhounds at arms length distance the rest of the way, never leading by more than 11 nor leading by less than six.
John Jay got the lead to within six with just over three minutes to go on a three pointer by Luna. But perfect foul shooting by NJCU (9-for-10 over the final three minutes) denied any John Jay comeback.
Marques Hill (Hillside, NJ/ Hillside) led NJCU with 16 points as the Gothic Knights are now 4-0 on the season.
John Jay will return to action on Wed. Nov. 29 for homecoming against William Paterson Univ. at 7 p.m.
