By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
Box Score
New York, N.Y.— Needing just two points to become the ninth player in John Jay men's basketball history to amass 1,000 career points,
Jerome Alexander got his first two points of the night with 11:52 to play in the first half before proceeding to a 35 point night as the John Jay men's basketball team defeated Rutgers-Camden 91-82 at the Doghouse on Monday evening.
Alexander received an inbounds pass from
Jamar Harry underneath the basket and knocked in the short jumper from about seven feet in the paint for his first field goal of the night.
After missing his first three shots attempts to be held scoreless for eight plus minutes, Alexander came alive and netted 18 points in the final 11:52 of the first half to lead all scorers. He made seven of his last eight first half shots, including 2-for-2 from behind the arc.
He hit several clutch shots to bring the Bloodhounds (9-12) back into the game late in the first half as John Jay trailed by as much as 13 in the opening stanza. With the Bloodhounds leading 21-18, Rutgers-Camden (3-17) outscored John Jay 18-2 to take a 36-23 lead with 5:09 to play.
John Jay closed out the first half on a 19-6 spurt, with Alexander netting 14 of the points during that span, including a lay-up at the buzzer to tie the game as the teams were knotted at 42.
In the second half, a lay-up by
Isaiah Holman with 14:15 remaining gave the Bloodhounds to lead for good. The field goal ignited a 6-0 run that put John Jay ahead 55-50 with 13:34 to go.
Alexander went 4-for-4 from the free throw line during that span as he went 14-for-14 from the charity stripe. The Bloodhounds went to the line a season-high 52 times, including 36 times in the second half.
Up 57-55, John Jay went on an 11-2 run to take a double digit lead for the first time as the Bloodhounds went up 68-57 with 9:21 to go.
The Scarlet Raptors quickly cut it to as little as two and were down 71-69 with 6:03 to play.
But the Bloodhounds answered each time. They went up double digits again in the final two minutes on another pair of foul shots from Alexander with 1:42 left. And the clutch foul shooting in the closing moments prevented any Rutgers-Camden comeback.
Alexander's 35 led five players in double figures as
Justin Alleyne and
Swindon Charles had 12 points each, while Holman and
Kris Owens had 11. Charles had a double-double as he added 13 rebounds.
The Scarlet Raptors were led by Yusuf Leary with 23 points, while Michael Williams had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Woody Redding had a double-double as well with 12 points and 12 assists.
The Bloodhounds held a 44-36 advantage in rebounding and outscored Rutgers-Camden 27-14 on second chance points.
John Jay returns to action on Wednesday February 1 at Hunter College at 7 p.m.
