LINCROFT, NJ—On Tuesday night, GMC Hoops traveled down Route 9 and 18 South, and Monmouth County Road 520 to Brookdale Community College to see the Jersey Blues take on the Blue Colts of Middlesex County College in a Region 19 and Garden State Athletic Conference game. Trailing 7-6 early on, Middlesex went on an 12-2 run including two free throws and two baskets by former Colonia big man, Berruche Archille and a three by former E.B. Tech standout, Mark Alston to take an 18-9 lead at the 11:10 mark of the first half. Then, the Colts limited the Jersey Blues to just one field goal over a span of nearly 8 minutes while going on an 18-8 tear including another trey by Alston and a three by Sayreville’s Bryan Webb to take a 36-17 lead with 3:24 to go in the first half.
Middlesex C.C. maintained its 19 point lead going into halftime, and led by as many as 30 on a couple of occasions and 31 points in the waning moments before winning 81-52. Archille led all scorers with a game high 27 points while also collecting 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. Bound Brook’s Jaquan Pearyer chipped in with 17 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and a steal. Webb added 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Stephen Mendez came off the bench to collect 10 points on 4 of 4 shooting including two threes while also pulling down 8 boars. Brian Crosby collected 12 points and 8 rebounds while Tavon Bennett chipped in with 11 in a losing cause for Brookdale. Middlesex improved to 4-4 overall on the season including a 3-3 mark in conference play. Brookdale dropped to 2-4 on the season including a 1-1 mark in the GSAC. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
18:35—Just arrived at Brookdale C.C. to see the Jersey Blues take on Middlesex C.C. In a Region 19 and GSAC contest. Brookdale leads early on 2-0.
15:00—So far a seesaw battle with Brookdale hanging on to a 7-6 lead.
11:44 left in first half and Middlesex leads 16-9 following two free throws and a basket by Colonia’s Berruche Archille.
11:10 left in half and Brookdale calls for time after Jaquan Pearyer dished to Berruche Archille for layin and an MCC 18-9 lead. Middlesex County College on a 12-2 tear.
9:00–Middlesex C.C. now up 25-11 thanks to two more scores by Archille and a three by EB Tech’s Mark Alston.
7:32 left in the half and Middlesex C.C. calls a full timeout after Archille was called for an offensive foul.
5:30 left in the first half and Middlesex leads 28-15 after another score by Archille. The former Colonia player has 10 pts since GMC Hoops arrived a couple minutes into the game.
3:58 left in half and MCC now up 33-17 after a three by Alston from the right wing.
3:24 left in half and Brookdale calls another timeout after another MCC three by Bryant Webb for a 36-17 lead.
0:00–End of the first half and Middlesex CC takes a 43-24 lead after a three by Sayreville’s Bryant Webb from just to the right of the top of the key beats the buzzer. Colts defense key in the last 11 minutes or so of the half. Over a span of 8:20, Middlesex limited Brookdale to just one FG en route to a 19 pt lead.
Second Half
18:01 remaining in the game and Brookdale calls timeout following a score down low by Berruche Archille for an MCC 47-28 lead. Both teams have scored four points to start the second half.
15:51 left in game and MCC calls timeout after a layup from the left side by Terrel Cox of Brookdale that capped an 8-2 run by the Jersey Blues to pull within a baker’s dozen at 49-36.
11:25 left in game and MCC takes its largest lead at 60-40 on a three from the right corner by Bryant Webb off a kick out by Jaquan Pearyer.
9:44 left in the game and MCC calls time after a Brookdale score ended a 13-4 Colts run for a 62-42 MCC lead.
8:08 left and MCC now up by 23 at 65-42 after three by Stephen Mendez that just beats the 35 second shot clock.
5:45 left and Middlesex scores on an alleyoop pass off inbounds by Pearyer for layin by Archille and the foul for a three pt play and a 72-44 MCC lead. Colts on a 10-2 spurt.
1:30 left and Bryant Webb skies for the block.
0:00–Game just ended with MCC rolling past Brookdale for an 81-52 victory. Colts led by 31 late and by 30 on a couple of occasions down the stretch. Colts ended the game on a 13-8 run over last 5:45. Middlesex improves to 4-4 overall including a 3-3 mark in GSAC play while Brookdale falls to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the GSAC.