Moore Steps Up in 2nd Half to Lift New Brunswick Past Montgomery, 58-54

Zebras Advance to CJ Group 4 Semis Big Man Collects Two Dunks Down the Stretch Before Scoring Game Clinching Putback

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—After being upset by 14th seeded Old Bridge in the 2020 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament Round of 16, New Brunswick was looking to rebound with a state tourney run. The Zebras had not been to a sectional semifinal since 2005 when they, led by the likes of pro football player, Jonathan Casillas, reached the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 semifinals before losing to eventual TOC finalist, Shabazz of Newark.

The Zebras got ready for the state tourney by playing three tune-up games against Lakewood (won 70-53) of Ocean County, GMC rival Carteret (lost 63-60), and an improved Academy of Urban Leadership team (82-46) coached by former Cardinal McCarrick standouts, Donnie Reid and Jordan Manley. Then, New Brunswick, the 2nd seed in Central Jersey Group 4 this season, opened the tournament with a 78-47 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South of the Colonial Valley Conference.

Winning its opening round contest, the Zebras advanced to the quarterfinals and hosted 7th seeded Montgomery. After South Brunswick rolled past Hightstown in another CJ Group 4 quarterfinal, GMC Hoops traveled over to New Brunswick High School, and got to the game with about three minutes remaining in the first half. At that point, the Zebras were struggling as big man, Chris Rubayo (18 points) was having his way by making three pointers, and dunking.

The Cougars benefited as they turned a 14-7 deficit into a four point lead with an 11-0 run. Then, Montgomery maintained their advantage at the half, 29-26, despite the Zebras trimming the lead with a 12-11 run over the final three minutes of the second. Montgomery extended its lead to five at 37-32 a little over three minutes into the third, and New Brunswick had to fight an uphill battle to just get back into the game.

Thanks to the perimeter shooting of Ahyan Brown-Miller (18 points, 10 steals, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds), Jayvon Taylor (13 points and 5 rebounds), and William Britton (10 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal), the Zebras battled their way back into the game. But it was Tahjay Moore, the New Brunswick big man, who recently announced that he will be attending Rutgers to play football next fall, who overcame foul problems to come up big down the stretch.

Moore, who was entrenched in an intense battle in the paint with Rubayo for the entire second half, found a way to be a huge factor down the stretch with two huge dunks, and the game clinching putback in the closing seconds to lift the Zebras to a 58-54 victory over the Cougars. Moore finished with a double-double of 10 points and 15 boards along with four blocks and an assist. Taaje Welcome (4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals) and sophomore Josiah Brown (3 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, and a rebound) rounded out the scoring for the winners.

Ryan Curry (16 points including two three pointers) and Matt Przekop (11 points including three treys) joined Rubayo as the three Montgomery players that scored in double figures in a losing cause. Noah Vlacich (3 points), Christian Rowan (2 points), Marco Lainez (2 points), and Kye Lewis (2 points) rounded out the scoring for the Cougars. New Brunswick held a 14-10 first quarter lead before Montgomery put together a 19-12 showing for its three point edge at the half.

Montgomery maintained its three point, 42-39 lead heading into the fourth after both teams were knotted in a 13-13 tie in the third. However, New Brunswick behind the efforts of Moore, Brown-Miller, Taylor, and Britton, surged past Montgomery with a 19-12 effort in the final frame for the four point, come from behind victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in the Hub City. Taylor sparked the fourth quarter rally with two three pointers from the right side of the key within the first minute of the final frame for a 45-42 lead with 7:02 to play.

From there, the game became a back and forth affair. Montgomery answered by scoring the next five points including a floater by Rowan and a three by Curry for a 47-45 lead with about 4:30 remaining. Brown-Miller then drew a foul on an acrobatic and one that he converted into a traditional three point play that brought the Zebra faithful to their feet with the Zebras now leading 48-47 with 4:18 to play in regulation.

Curry put the Cougars back on top at 49-48 with a putback from the right lane off a missed three attempt by Przekop. Montgomery had a chance to go up even further, but Moore game up with a huge blocked shot that the Zebras converted quickly at the other end in the form of a Britton score for a 50-49 lead with 2:31 to play. Following a timeout, Moore gave the Zebras a 52-49 lead with 1:55 left in regulation on a two handed jam off a spin move from the left side of the key.

After Montgomery answered with a score of its own to claw back within one at 52-51, Moore thundered home a two handed putback dunk off a missed layup attempt by Brown-Miller for a three point, 54-51 edge with 1:26 remaining in the fourth. The Zebras added a free throw for a 55-51 lead before the Cougars got a clutch three pointer from the left side of the key by Vlacich to close within one again at 55-54 with 20.3 seconds left in the fourth.

Following a timeout, Taylor was fouled, and went to the line with 8.5 seconds to play. After the senior guard made the first one, Taylor missed the second, but Moore was there to tap in the follow to give New Brunswick a 58-54 lead with 8.5 seconds remaining. The Moore tip-in sealed the victory for the Zebras, which advanced to the sectional semifinals for the first time in 15 years with an opportunity to play for a sectional championship since winning the Central Jersey Group 2 title in 2004 led by the likes of Josh Jones and another former pro football player, Dwayne Jarrett.

With the victory, New Brunswick improved to 20-7 on the season, and will host 3rd seeded Marlboro of Monmouth County and the Shore Conference’s Class A North Division in the Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals on Saturday afternoon, March 7th at 1:00 PM in the Hub City. Montgomery, which defeated 10th seeded East Brunswick (45-26) in the opening round, finished its season at 15-12.