NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2002-03

March 26, 2003


NJAC SENIOR MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-STARS
 EDGE SENIOR CUNY ALL-STARS, 124-122


STOCKTON'S ARROYO NAMED MVP IN CONFERENCE'S SECOND STRAIGHT WIN


Richard Stockton guard Jorge Arroyo posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Senior All-Stars edged the Senior All-Star squad from the CUNYAC, 124-122, in the NJAC/CUNYAC Senior All-Star Challenge at Montclair State’s Panzer Gymnasium on March 26.

For the NJAC, which won its second straight meeting with its cross-river rivals and now lead the series, 2-1, Reginald Wright of New Jersey City University had 15 points and eight rebounds. The NJAC, which won last year’s game 115-113 at College of Staten Island, rallied from a nine-point deficit midway through the fourth period. The game was played in four, 12-minute quarters.

Edwin Caceres of City College finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the CUNYAC, which squandered the lead with 7:42 to play in the game. Edgar Lugo of Lehman College led all scorers with 25 points as the CUNYAC placed six players in double-figures.

Arroyo, who had 11 points and seven rebounds in the second half was named the Most Valuable Player for the NJAC Team while Caceres was chosen as the MVP of the CUNYAC squad.

The CUNYAC took a 103-94 lead as Lugo buried a three-pointer from the right side, however, the NJAC Team chipped away at the deficit. Kevin Stokes of Ramapo hit a free throw to cut the lead to five and a Stokes layup brought NJAC within 108-104 with 5:22 left. Medgar Evers Rhasheen Perry hit a foul shot to restore the lead to five, but the NJAC scored the next 10 points to take the lead for good. Tennyson Whitted of Ramapo hit two free throws to make the score 109-106 and The College of New Jersey’s Gyl Vaught sank a three to tie the game. The NJAC then took the lead as Joseph Thomas of NJAC champion Montclair State scored five straight points for a 114-109 lead with 3:30 to play.

CUNYAC would tie the game one last time at 117-117 with 58 seconds left as Caceres scored on a layup. But Thomas hit three foul shots to give the NJAC the lead for good and Arroyo made a fast-break layup for a 122-117 NJAC lead with 25 seconds to go. John Alesi of Baruch hit an off-balance three with 15 seconds left to make the score 122-120, but Whitted iced the game for the NJAC with two fouls shots with 10 seconds left. Caceres scored on a layup at the buzzer for the final margin.

Stokes finished with 20 points for the NJAC while Vaught had 14 points. Michael Patrick of Lehman had 16 points for the CUNYAC.