Division I NJIT Too Strong For Bears

NEWARK, NJ – Facing the first Division I opponent in school history, the St. Joseph's College men's basketball team (0-1) lost their 2009-10 season opener to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (1-1), 96-54, at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center on Monday night.

Junior Jon Matzelle (Maspeth, NY/St. Francis Prep) led St. Joseph's with a team-high 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Bears hung tough in the first half trailing by only two points seven minutes into the game, after three straight free throws by senior Lew Monaco (Staten Island, NY/Msgr. Farrell) cut the score to 12-10.  NJIT went on a quick 7-0 run extending their lead to nine.  A layup from Matzelle and another pair of free throws from Monaco cut the deficit to five with 10:18 left in the half, but that would be the closest the Bears would get as NJIT went on an 11-0 run to extend their lead to double figures for the remainder of the game.

NJIT held a 68-37 advantage in rebounds including a 30-9 edge on the offensive glass.  The Highlanders shot 11-for-34 from behind the arc, while the Bears connected on 7-for-26.

Sophomore Antoine Forehand (New York, NY/Rice) added nine points and three assists, with seven points coming in the second half.  Monaco finished with eight points and a trio of assists and rebounds.  All 12 players saw action for Coach Joseph Cocozello with all but one contributing at least one point.

Isaiah Wilkerson turned in a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) to lead six players in double figures for the Highlanders.

St. Joseph's returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, November 18th for their home opener against Philadelphia Bible College.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Brooklyn Technical H.S.