Photo by Jenna Bengivenga
The men’s basketball team kicked off their 2015-2016 campaign in grand fashion on Monday, as they rolled passed the York College Cardinals 99-81 for their first win of the season.
Ramapo came out of the gates hot with senior captain Frank Nock leading the pack to a 13-0 run that created a 23-7 lead early. Head coach Chuck McBreen’s high-octane transition offense worked to perfection.
“In the first half, we did a real good job of getting out in transition,” said McBreen. “We were unselfish and distributed the ball really well.”
On the other side of the ball, the full-court man defensive style of the Roadrunners caused the Cardinals to live on the perimeter where they shot 34 percent in the first half.
“Our effort defensively was great,” said McBreen. “They only took seven free throws in the first half and held them under 35 percent from the field. You can’t go wrong with that.”
York outscored Ramapo in the second half 50-45, but the first half lead was too much for York.
Nock would finish with a double-double, scoring 17 points and ripping down 13 boards. Coach McBreen was impressed with his team captain’s performance.
“You can’t kill a kid who plays 38 minutes on the floor and is asked to score and told to guard the best player on the other team.”
Along with Nock, the box score highlighted five total Roadrunners with double-digit points. Moseley finished as the game’s leading scorer with 21 points going 8-11 from the field with four of five made from the charity stripe. Peart, who shot 50 percent from the field, finished with 19 points.
Sophomore captain Jimbo Long didn’t start this game due to a foot injury, so fellow sophomore Josh Ford was called upon to play the point in his spot. Ford, who finished with 17 points of his own, was ecstatic after the team’s first win.
“It’s just a blessing,” said Ford. “I was just trying to go out there and give my best effort. The points were there and I took advantage while getting everyone else involved on the floor too.”
The Roadrunners saw some fresh faces out on the floor in the home opener as well. Contributing was JC Beaubrun and Salomon Pierre who had solid debuts for the maroon and white. Beaubrun had 10 points and five boards while Pierre scored a lone bucket for two points.
If the Roadrunners play to this capacity going forward, the team thinks the sky is the limit.
“We just have to keep working at practice, focus, and make sure that hard work rolls over to the games,” said Ford.
The Roadrunners’ next test will be on Friday night when they open up their annual Tip-Off Tournament and take on Farmingdale State in the Bradley Center at 7:30 p.m.
sthomps4@ramapo.edu
