Middlesex C.C. Hangs On To Edge Raritan Valley, 91-89
EDISON, NJ–On Thursday night, Middlesex County College took on Raritan Valley Community College at the Physical Education Center in Edison. Â Both teams are transitioning this season with the likes of Shawn Fenton, Bryan Waluk, and J.J. D’Amico departing from MCC after last season, and RVCC having some new faces as well including former Watchung Hills standout Zack O’Brien and P-Way’s Omar Smith playing on this year’s squad along with another former Piscataway player, Antoine Beverly.
With the departure of Fenton, more has to be expected of former J.P. Stevens standout, Myles Reuben, who will need to do more down low, especially in the area of rebounding. Â The Colts are not as big as in years past. Â However, they scrapped and battled their way to a thrilling 91-89 victory over the Lions. After putting together a 21-5 surge for a 24-13 first half lead, and leading for almost 25 minutes in the contest, the Colts had to hang on as Raritan Valley rallied from a six point deficit with under six minutes to play to pull within two on several occasions. However the Lions were unable to get any closer in a 91-89 MCC victory.
In the contest, there were five ties and three lead changes. Middlesex led for 24:48 of the game, and led by as many as 14 points while RVCC led by five on three occasions in the second half. As far as the former GMC players, Myles Reuben helped lead the way in victory with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and an assist while Jeremy Cruz chipped in with 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. In defeat, Antoine Beverly stood tall with 13 points and 3 rebounds while teammate Omar Smith added 4 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist.
Led by O’Brien, RVCC got off to a fast start with an 8-3 lead before the Lions called timeout with under 17 minutes to go in the first half. Â Middlesex rallied back with a tremendous 14-3 tear over the next 3:30 including a three pointer by Reuben and a short jumper by former McCarrick standout Jeremy Cruz to take a 17-11 lead. Â The only points by Raritan Valley during this stretch was a conventional three point play by O’Brien after MCC had tied the score at 8-8 on the previous possession.
Over the next three minutes, the Lions continued to struggle offensively despite Smith and fellow former Piscataway teammate Antoine Beverly being inserted into the lineup. Â Middlesex forced turnovers on defense, and played up-tempo on offense by converting steals into layups. Â Reuben added a jumper from the right elbow at the 10:36 mark for a 24-13 lead. Â RVCC was limited to just 5 points over a span of nearly six and a half minutes. Â Raritan Valley’s offense did finally get going as the Lions put together an 8-4 spurt capped by another three point play from O’Brien with less than eight minutes to go in the first half.
Middlesex used two pairs of free throws to highlight a 6-0 run to take a 34-21 lead at the 6:35 mark, but RVCC continued to hang around with a steal that setup a layup by Smith, and then a pair of free throws to narrow the deficit to 34-25 before MCC head coach, Chris Tarver called for time at the 5:45 mark. Â Following the timeout, Middlesex got going again with a 13-8 run over the next 3:54. Â Even with Reuben on the bench, the Colts were able to extend their lead thanks to fine defensive plays like the charge drawn on Smith at the 2:45 mark. Â MCC then made a pair of free throws at the 2:30 mark, and then a three from the right wing, and another rom the left wing for a 47-33 lead with 1:51 to go in the half.
Bolstered by the play from former Immaculata standout, Emmitt Hightower, the Lions made a run towards the end of the half to draw within single digits at the break. Â RVCC scored 8 of the final 10 points of the half including four from Hightower, and a score off a steal, and another off a putback as time ran out in the first half. Â At the intermission, Reuben had 7 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist while Cruz connected for 4 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist for the Colts. Â Meanwhile, Smith had 4 points and an assist while Beverly added two points and a rebound for the Lions.
The second half started out with promise for Middlesex as the Colts got the first four points including a jumper from Reuben for a 53-41 lead. Â However, over the next four minutes or so, the Lions resumed their onslaught that ended the first half. Â Raritan Valley went on a 16-4 tear that included a three pointer at the 16:30 mark, another three point play by O’Brien at the 15:33 mark, and a steal for a layup to tie the game at 57-57 with 14:57 to play. Â As MCC continued to flounder on offense, Raritan Valley took its first lead since 11-8 early on in the game on a putback by O’Brien at the 14:23 mark. Â The Lions had a chance to extend the lead, but Middlesex managed to get a stop, and scored at the other end to tie the game at 59-59 before MCC called for time at the 13:58 mark.
On the ensuing possession, RVCC took the lead again with a bucket, and then got one of two from the line by O’Brien for a 62-59 lead. Â Middlesex would pull within one at 62-61 when Cruz pulled up just inside the arc for a jumper from the right side. Â The Lions had a chance to go back up by three, but the Colts once again drew a charge on Smith at the 12:06 mark. Â Beverly gave Raritan Valley a three point lead again when he got his own rebound, and put it back in at the 10:25 mark. Â Moments later, RVCC forced a five second call, but the Lions were unable to take advantage. Â Following a stop on defense, the Lions got the ball to Beverly underneath for a layup, and a 66-61 advantage with 9:36 to play.
Middlesex rallied back to tie the score thanks to a three from Cruz, and then a slashing drive from the right wing for a layup by Reuben to tie the score at 66-66 with 8:23 remaining. Â RVCC regained control by scoring 7 of the next 9 points including four points by Beverly, who put back his own miss to cap the run at the 6:29 mark for a 73-68 lead. Â Middlesex battled back to within one at the 5:40 mark as Reuben made a pair from the line, and then the Colts got another basket for a 73-72 Lions lead. Â After Beverly made one of two at the line, MCC tied the score at 74-74 at the 5:32 mark. Â Following a stop on the defensive end, Middlesex took the lead back with a three point play at the 5:10 mark.
The game continued to go back and forth as Beverly scored underneath again at the 4:44 mark for a 77-76 score. Â Beverly was then called for a foul down low at the other end, which resulted in two free throws, and a 79-76 lead for MCC before O’Brien netted a pair from the charity stripe with 4:25 left to trim the deficit to one again at 79-78. Â The Lions then tied the game at 80-80 before Reuben made one of two at the 3:23 mark. Â Middlesex then added another free throw for a two point lead, and got another score for a four point lead while O’Brien missed two free throws. Â The Colts went up by six at 86-80 before the Lions rallied with 6 of the next 8 points including a layup by O’Brien prior to an RVCC timeout with 1:02 left in regulation.
Middlesex appeared to put the game out of reach when Emmanuel Omowole made a pair of free throws with 46.3 seconds left, and Jeremey Cruz made one of two from the line with 30.8 to play for a 91-86 lead, but the Lions immediately got the ball down court for a layup and the foul that was converted into a three point play, and a 91-89 MCC lead with 27.1 seconds left. Â Following an RVCC timeout, Middlesex tried to get the ball upcourt, but had to use a timeout at the 19.1 second mark thanks to the pressure defense by the Lions. Â Following the stoppage, MCC eventually got the ball inbounds to Cruz, who dribbled into the frontcourt, but then had the ball stolen away. Â Raritan Valley rushed down the floor to set up a game tying shot, but it was rejected, and the Lions were unable to score on the follow as Middlesex won 91-89.
GMC Hoops will be posting video highlights from this game soon.