Dukens Germain's jumper with two seconds remaining propels New Jersey Basketball team to 79-77 victory over Patriots in regular season finale

The Berkeley College (NJ) Men’s Basketball team rallied back from a nine point second half deficit to defeat the Patriots of Valley Forge Christian College by a score of 79-77 Thursday evening in Phoenixville, PA. It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Knights, who improved their overall record to 17-10 on the season as they look towards Wednesday’s USCAA National Tournament quarterfinal round game against Penn State Fayette. The Patriots had their two-game winning streak snapped, as they dropped to 14-11 on the year.

The Knights – who trailed 31-27 at halftime and by as many as nine points in the second half – found themselves down 73-66 with just 4:00 remaining in the game. From there, Berkeley College turned up the voltage and stormed back. In a span of 49 seconds, sophomore guard Hassan Abdullah would connect on a three-point basket and later drain a pair of free throws to pull his team to within two points. That was followed by a converted layup by junior forward Carl O’Neil. With 2:44 to go, the game was tied at 73 apiece.

Valley Forge Christian College would retake the lead when senior guard Antonio Malone would bank-in a layup to put the Patriots up 75-73 with 1:48 remaining. 22 seconds later, Berkeley tied the game when O’Neil dropped in a pair of free throws. With just 86 seconds left on the clock, the game was knotted at 75.

Patriots’ junior guard Kevin Mack would knock down the second of two free throw attempts with 1:16 left to put Valley Forge Christian College back up 76-75, but a layup by Knights freshman forward John Noel pushed Berkeley back ahead, 77-76. Later – with 25 seconds left -  Patriots freshman guard Tony Hazzard would connect on just the backend of two shots from the charity stripe, leaving the game tied at 77-all.

Following a 30 timeout by Berkeley College Head Coach Anthony Calabrese, the Knights let the clock bleed down as much as possible before sophomore guard Dukens Germain would connect on a jumper to give Berkeley a 79-77 lead. Valley Forge Christian College had one final chance to tie or win the game, but Lance Harris’ three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark, giving the Knights a thrilling come-from-behind victory.

The game-winning basket by Germain overshadowed what had been a rather quiet evening for the Columbia High School product, as he finalized his night with eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Sophomore guard Andrew Tomlin scored a team-high 15 points for the Knights, while also adding three steals. Abdullah dropped-in 11 points, and Noel netted 10.

Despite the loss for the Patriots, Valley Forge Christian College was paced by Mack who connected on 10 of his 18 attempts from the floor en route to finishing with a game-high 26 points. He also snatched nine rebounds and dished five assists. Junior guard Jean LeBlanc dropped-in 13 points, while Harris and Hazzard scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The teams were almost even in all major categories. The Patriots connected on 42.6 percent of their shots from the floor (26-61), while Berkeley hit on 26 of their 65 attempts for the night (40 percent). The Knights’ 75 percent conversion rate on free throws (21-28) was slightly higher than Valley Forge Christian College’s, who nailed 72.4 percent of theirs (21-29). The Knights held a 40-36 edge on the glass, while the Patriots dished one more assist (13 to Berkeley’s 12) and tallied nine steals to the Knights’ six.

Berkeley College will next board a bus on Monday, as the team will travel to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to participate in the 2014 USCAA National Basketball Tournament. Berkeley College – who earned the No. 7 seed in the tournament - will square off against the No. 10 seeded Roaring Lions of Penn State Fayette on Wednesday evening in the tournament quarterfinals, with start time for that contest scheduled for 8:00pm.

Eight Berkeley College student-athletes named to the Fall 2013 HVIAC All-Academic Team

The Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2013 Fall All-Academic Team today, with 137 student-athletes earning recognition. Eight student-athletes from Berkeley made the list, including four from the cross country programs (three female, one male), and four from the soccer squads (two from each gender).

Instituted by the HVIAC during the 2010-2011 season, the All-Academic Team recognizes excellence in both in the field of play and in the classroom. It consists of student-athletes who have reached sophomore academic standing and have earned a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or better at the conclusion of the fall semester, and participate in one of HVIAC offered sports – men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, and women’s cross country.

From the Berkeley College (NY) Women’s Cross Country team, senior Lacey Garnett, junior Sarah Celin, and sophomore Noemi Saldivar-Torres were recognized for their stellar contributions. The Knights’ Men’s Cross Country squad was represented by senior Jermund Ottermo. In addition, Women’s Soccer sophomores, Leslie Fernandez and Sophi Veivag, were selected to the All-Academic team. Finally, junior Joachim Moe and sophomore Gustavo Moreno of the Men’s Soccer squad also received recognition.

“I would like to take a moment to congratulate these eight hard-working student-athletes for being named to the HVIAC All-Academic Team for the fall of 2013,” Director of Athletics Andy DeStephano said. “Their dedication to their respective sports, as well as their diligent efforts in the classroom, has culminated in them receiving the honor that has been bestowed upon them. I wish all of these student-athletes nothing but success in all of their future endeavors.”

It is anticipated that the 2013-2014 Winter All-Academic Team will be announced during the Spring.

For the first time in program history, all three basketball teams earn USCAA National Tournament bids

The USCAA announced its selections for the 2014 National Basketball Tournaments on Wednesday afternoon, and for the first time in the history of Berkeley College Athletics, all three basketball teams were chosen and will have the opportunity to compete for National championships. The tournament will be hosted by Penn State Fayette, and all games will take place in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

On the men’s side – Berkeley College (NJ) – currently boasting an overall record of 16-10 on the 2013-2014 campaign – drew the No. 7 seed in the tournament. The Knights will square off against the No. 10 seeded Roaring Lions of Penn State Fayette on Wednesday evening at 8:00pm. The Roaring Lions have a current mark of 13-14 on the year. Berkeley College (NJ) Head Coach Anthony Calabrese was very pleased to see his team get an opportunity to compete for the USCAA National crown.

“It is very gratifying for us as a team to have a chance to compete for a National championship,” Calabrese said. “We have a very motivated and confident group of young men who have worked tremendously hard this season to get this opportunity, and it’s terrific to see their hard work pay off. I feel that our guys are physically and mentally ready for the challenge that this tournament presents.”

The winner of the Berkeley College (NJ) vs. Penn State Fayette contest will advance to play No. 2 seeded Penn State York at 2:00pm on Thursday afternoon.

Berkeley College (NY) – with an overall record of 14-9 – drew the No. 9 seed in the tournament. The Knights – who were the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions the previous three seasons before falling in the semifinal round of that tournament this season – will match up against No. 8 seeded Penn State Beaver on Wednesday at 6:00pm. Knights Head Coach Chris Christiansen spoke about his team getting selected to compete in the tournament.

“Any time you see the diligent efforts of your student-athletes get rewarded in this fashion, you can’t help but feel excited for them,” Christiansen said. “All last week and early this week, our guys were extremely anxious to see if they would have this opportunity, and now that we are in, we’re planning on giving it our best shot.”

The team that emerges victorious in the Berkeley College (NY)-Penn State Beaver contest will take on No. 1 seeded Central Maine C.C. on Thursday evening at 5:30pm.

The Lady Knights – who were the 2012-2013 National Basketball Tournament runners-up, have drawn the No. 4 seed in this year’s tournament with an overall record of 13-6. Berkeley College will face off against the No. 5 seeded Penn State Beaver on Thursday evening at 9:30pm. Penn State Beaver is 18-10 thus far on the season. Lady Knights Head Coach Sharod Tomlinson believes his team is very motivated by last year’s loss in the USCAA title game.

“Our team comes into this year’s tournament with tremendous experience following last year’s trip to the National championship game,” Tomlinson said. “I feel that playing a team the caliber of Penn State Beaver will be a nice litmus test for us, as we pride ourselves on being a strong squad defensively, and they pride themselves on scoring points in bunches. It should be an interesting game.

The winner of the Berkeley College-Penn State Beaver game will face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 seeded Central Maine C.C. and No. 8 seeded Warren Wilson College on Friday evening at 9:00pm.

To follow the Knights and Lady Knights in their quest for a National Championship, visit the USCAA website – www.theUSCAA.com. Live statistics and live video streaming will be available for select games. Recaps of all Berkeley College contests will be available by the Knights’ athletics website at http://berkeleycollege.edu/athletics/.

Berkeley College basketball teams anxiously await potential USCAA National Tournament bids

The Berkeley College New York Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams – as well as the New Jersey Men’s Basketball team – are currently awaiting potential invitations to the 2014 USCAA National Basketball Tournament. The USCAA’s selection show will take place this Wednesday – February 26 – at noon, and will be streamed live with the association’s website. For further information, please keep it posted to the Berkeley College athletics page.

Berkeley College’s New York men’s squad is hopeful of a bid, as the team currently boasts a record of 14-9 overall. The Knights – who prior to this season won the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title three consecutive years – fell in the semifinals of the tournament this year to Vaughn College by a score of 73-70 in the semifinal round. Berkeley is currently listed as the No. 10 team on the USCAA Men’s Coaches Poll.

“Our student-athletes have a very positive mindset as it pertains to potentially having a chance to play in the USCAA National Tournament,” Head Coach Chris Christiansen said. “The most difficult aspect of the waiting process is the unknown. This has been a very challenging season for our team, but at the same time this is a group that enjoys challenges, so should we receive a bid, I know our guys will be prepared mentally and physically to give it their best on the court.”

As for the Berkeley College of New York Women, the Lady Knights are confident of receiving an invitation to the USCAA tournament, as the team currently owns a record of 13-6, including an unblemished 6-0 mark against Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents during the regular season. The Knights did fall in the semifinal round of the HVIAC Tournament, however, losing to St. Joseph’s College of Brooklyn by a score of 73-59. Berkeley College is listed as the No. 3 team on the USCAA Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

“Our team has worked extremely hard this season, and it would be very gratifying for our student-athletes should we earn a spot in the USCAA National Tournament,” Head Coach Sharod Tomlinson said. “A season ago, we played well enough to get ourselves into the championship game of the National tournament, and our players are eager to get that opportunity once again. I believe the experience that we gained last year can be a strength for us should we get an invitation to this year’s tourney.”

Berkeley College’s New Jersey Men’s Basketball team is currently 16-10 on the 2013-2014 campaign and believes it has a very strong chance to earn an invitation to this year’s dance. The Knights started slow out of the gate – dropping five of their first nine games this year before rallying to finish 12-5 in their final 17 contests. Berkeley currently comes in at No. 9 team on the USCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

“I feel that our team has done a very good job of collectively improving as the season has progressed,” Knights Head Coach Anthony Calabrese said. “One of the most important elements a team can have is confidence, and I’d have to say that right now we’re playing with a tremendous amount of confidence. We would be grateful for an opportunity to display our talents in the USCAA National Tournament. Time will tell for us.”

The USCAA National Tournament will take place in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and will be hosted by Penn State Fayette. The tournament runs March 4 through March 8, with games times to-be-announced.

Berkeley College of New York Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams Earn Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Praise

The Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its All-Conference selections on Monday morning, and the Berkeley College of New York basketball teams were well represented. On the women’s side, Head Coach Sharod Tomlinson was tabbed  

co-Coach of the Year, and three of his players – senior guard Aiyesha Brown, junior forward Milan Germany, and junior guard Janay Thomas – were named to the All-Conference team. For the Berkeley men’s team, senior guard Jovan Bovell, senior center Elijah Craig, and sophomore guard Keenan Langston received All-Conference praise.

Berkeley College’s Women’s Basketball team just completed its third consecutive winning season under the guidance of Head Coach Sharod Tomlinson, who has done a phenomenal job of leading the squad in its short four year existence. The progression of Berkeley’s Women’s Basketball program with Tomlinson at the helm has been encouraging. After putting together just a 2-17 record in their inaugural campaign back in 2010-2011, the Lady Knights have put together three consecutive winning seasons (15-12 in 2011-2012, 14-10 in 2012-2013, and 13-6 thus far this year). Berkeley College has received two USCAA National Tournament bids the past two seasons, and staked its claim as National runners-up during the 2012-2013 season. Berkeley’s Director of Athletics – Andy DeStephano – was proud of the honor that was bestowed upon Tomlinson.

“Sharod did an excellent job with our women’s team this season, and I’m glad to see him be recognized for his continued efforts,” DeStephano said. “This is the third consecutive winning season, and I believe the program has a bright future.”

The Lady Knights were defeated in the semifinal round of the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament this past Saturday. Berkeley College is hopeful that it will receive a bid to the 2014 USCAA Women’s Basketball National Tournament, as selections will be announced on Wednesday, February 26.

Aiyesha Brown earned her second HVIAC All-Conference selection (she also received praise following the 2012-2013 season). Thus far this season, she shares a team lead in points-per-game for the Knights by averaging 16.5 points per contest. The Jamaica, NY native has scored in double figures 10 times this year, and has scored 17 points or more seven times.

After being tabbed as a 2012-2013 All-Conference selection, Milan Germany was recognized by the conference again she was named to the All-Conference team for the 2013-2014 campaign. Germany displayed excellent versatility on the court this past season, averaging team-highs in points-per-game with 16.5 and rebounds per contest with nine. She also posted eight double-doubles for the year, as well.

Finally, speedy guard Janay Thomas earned All-Conference praise after also being named to the HVIAC All-Conference crew during the 2011-2012 season. This past year, Thomas averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest. She scored in double digits on 10 different occasions for the Knights, and played at least 37 minutes or more in seven of Berkeley’s games this year.

On the men’s side for Berkeley College, senior center Elijah Craig was named to the HVIAC All-Conference team for the third time (he also was tabbed during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons). This past year, the big man averaged nine points and team-high 10.1 rebounds per game. He also posted seven double-doubles for the year as well.

Senior guard Jovan Bovell was named to the 2013-2014 All-Conference team after earning the same distinction a season ago. The senior guard was second on the Knights with his 11.5 points-per-game average. He also snatched 4.7 rebounds-per-contest and dished 3.9 assists-per-game.

Sophomore guard Keenan Langston earned his first All-Conference selection by putting forth a phenomenal campaign for his team. The  Brooklyn, NY native paced the Knights by scoring a team-high 16.4 points per contest and shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. He also 4.3 rebounds per game, as well.

The Berkeley College Men’s Basketball team fell in the semifinal round of the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament this past Saturday. Team selections for the 2013-2014 USCAA Men’s Basketball National Tournament will be announced on Wednesday, February 26, as the Knights will hope for an invitation to the tournament for the fourth straight season.