TCNJ Wins 2019-20 NJAC Men's Basketball Title; First Since 1997-98 - Mar 1, 2020

The College of New Jersey pulled away in the first half and went on to defeat Stockton 75-60 in the NJAC Men's Basketball Championship final. The Lions' win was the first since 1997-98, fourth in program history, and earns the squad the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
NJAC Pony Wilson Player of the Year Randall Walko (6'5''-G) led the Lions' offense with 18 points, along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Ryan Jensen (6'6''-F) and Travis Jocelyn (6'6''-F) both recorded double-doubles. Jocelyn scored 13 points and pulled down 11 boards, and Jensen put up 13 points and 10 rebounds. P.J. Ringel (6'1''-G) was the fourth Lion in double figures, going 5-for-6 from the field for 10 points.
Kyion Flanders (6'0''-PG) led Stockton with 17 points, and NJAC Rookie of the Year DJ Campbell was the other Osprey in double figures with 11 points.
'It feels surreal to be honest,' said TCNJ head men's basketball coach Matt Goldsmith when asked about winning the NJAC. 'We've worked really hard for it. To win the conference with our first full recruiting class as seniors is really special. We're very proud of them. The boys have been working so hard for so long, and they earned it.'
The Lions took a 16-point lead with a 27-8 stretch in the first half. Stockton held a 13-10 edge after six minutes of action, but TCNJ raced out to a 37-23 advantage with 1:49 to play in the first half.
After Mike Walley (6'6''-F) hit a three-pointer, Anthony DiCaro struck from beyond the arc to put the Lions ahead, 16-13. As they have all season long, the Lions used the three-pointer to their advantage. TCNJ knocked down four trifectas in the first half run. Prior to today, the Lions ranked 25th in the nation in made three-pointers per game with an average of 10.7.
DiCaro struck again from beyond the arc to give the Lions a 24-15 lead with 7:37 to play in the first. A dunk from Jensen pushed the lead to 26-17.
TCNJ's offense continued to attack Stockton's defense. A lay-up from Ringel pushed the advantage to 35-21 with 2:43 to play in the first. Jocelyn scored from in close to extend the lead to 16, and the Lions took a 37-23 edge into halftime.
The Lions carried over the momentum into the second half. After Stockton recorded the first bucket of the half, TCNJ went on a 9-2 stretch to gain a 46-27 lead.
Ringel recorded four points during the run, and Jensen drilled a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 19 with under 16 minutes to play in the game.
Stockton's Flanders scored six straight points followed by a Taylor basket to pull Stockton within 52-42 with 9:50 remaining, but that was the closest the Ospreys would get as the Lions pushed the lead back to as many as 19.
TCNJ has been on a tear since the calendar flipped to 2020. On Jan. 1, the Lions held a 4-6 record. Since then, TCNJ has won 15 out of its last 17 games. With the championship game victory, the Lions have won 11 straight games in Packer Hall. TCNJ avenged the lone home defeat of the year, which was a two-point loss to Stockton in the home opener.
Stockton gelled into a deep and balanced team that finished the season with an 18-9 record. The Ospreys were ranked seventh in the NJAC preseason coaches poll but tied for first in the conference with a 14-4 mark. They dispatched Rowan 96-82 in the NJAC semifinals to advance to the conference title game for the first time since winning the crown in 2016.

Courtesy of njacsports.com

NJAC Tournament Final: The College of New Jersey - Stockton 75-60
NJAC Tournament Semifinals:
The College of New Jersey - Rutgers-Newark 65-48
Stockton - Rowan 96-82

Tags : RANDALL WALKO, THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, NCAA3 BASKETBALL