The Alternative Press

Colgate’s Mike Venezia (Westfield, Sr.) ended 2011 with a pair of 15-point efforts, both in losses. The Raiders dropped an 80-70 verdict to Quinnipiac on Wednesday in Hamilton, N.Y., with the Westfield High alum connecting on six of 11 shots from the floor, including three of five from long range. He also had three assists. Colgate (5-8) then bid adieu to 2011 on Saturday with a 71-64 defeat to New Hampshire in the Granite State. He converted six of nine field goal attempts, including three of four from Romney campaign headquarters.

Joey Kizel (Short Hills, Soph.) notched 12 points on free throws, equally divided in 6-point portions in victories over Curry, 83-54, and Salem State, 66-63, on Thursday and Friday, respectively, in the Salem State Holiday Classic in Salem, Mass. Kizel was good for a game-high seven assists in the Curry blowout, adding 10 points on 2-for-3 shooting from the floor, plus 6-for-6 at the line. He took matters more into his own hands in the championship game against Salem, scoring 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field (2-for-4 from the scene of the witch trials) and, again, 6-for-6 from the victims’ line. He also pulled down four caroms as the Panthers improved to 9-0 and retain their number one ranking in Division 3.

Montclair State captured the Comfort Inn Holiday Classic in Hackettstown on Friday with an 87-64 victory over the host school, Centenary. Ken Rubenstein (South Orange, Jr.) chipped in 15 points for the champs, canning six of 11 shots, including three of six from the Mars Candy plant. He also had four rebounds. Teammate Aaron Williams (West Orange, Fr.) contributed eight points for the Red Hawks, on 3-for-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from downtown. He also had five assists. Centenary’s Andy Charles (West Orange, Soph.) managed a game-high four steals to go with four rebounds, three points and two assists.

Montclair (10-3) reached the title tilt with a 90-53 romp over Lehman on Thursday. Williams scored 12 points in just 10 minutes, making four of seven attempts, all from the vicinity of the Panther Valley Golf Club. Rubenstein added seven points, hitting three of six shots from the floor, including one of three from Rt. 80.

Centenary (6-6) advanced with a 74-66 win over St. Joe’s of Brooklyn. Charles pulled down 11 boards and scored six points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field. On Tuesday, the Cyclones dusted off The College of New Jersey, 86-77, at home as Charles, a 6-4 forward out of Montclair High, posted seven rejections. He also tallied nine points (3-for-5 from the floor, including 1-for-2 from long range, and 2-for-2 from the foul line) to go with seven rebounds and three steals.

Kevin Udo (West Orange, Soph.) scored 11 points and pulled down nine rebounds to help Bloomfield College defeat St. Anselm, 70-62, in a Friday home game. Udo shot 3-for-5 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the foul line. The Deacons are now 9-5.

Columbia had a 7-game win streak snapped by Marist, 79-59, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Wednesday. The Lions (8-5) bounced back to defeat visiting Lafayette, 77-67, on Friday. Alex Rosenberg (Short Hills, Fr.) scored nine points for the winning side, nailing three of seven field goal attempts and three of four free throws. Rob Delaney (Westfield, Sr.) also scored nine points, but for Lafayette. He shot 4-for-7 from the field, including one successful 3-point try. He also led the Leopards with six assists.

Lafayette preceded the Columbia outing with a 69-54 home victory over Monmouth. Delaney scored only four points, but managed a career-high 11 assists. He also led the Leopards with three steals. Lafayette brings a 5-8 record into 2012.

Jaraad Rogers (Westfield, Soph.) has taken the reason for the season to heart. The Westfield High grad, believing it better to give than to receive, led Johns Hopkins in assists in both the Blue Jays’ games in the Centre College Holiday Classic in Danville, Ky. last week. He received credit for five distributions in both Thursday’s 80-60 loss to Cabrini and Friday’s 76-61 win over Berry. He also had five rebounds and two points against Cabrini. The Blue Jays are now 6-2.

Jordan Marcus (West Orange, Sr.) recovered his shooting stroke and led Ithaca College with 23 points in a 1-point loss, 73-72, to Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. on Friday. Marcus hoisted 16 field goal attempts and made nine, including five of 10 from outside the 3-point arc, as the Bombers dropped to 3-8.

Hamilton College’s Pat Sullivan (Madison, Sr.) scored a co-game high 13 points as the Continentals were mugged, 83-46, by NYU in Greenwich Village on Friday. Sullivan deposited five of 15 field goal attempts, including one of four from the doorstep of the former Bottom Line, plus 2-for-2 from the foul line. Hamilton is now 9-2.   

WOMEN’S HOOPS

Abby Martin (Maplewood, Jr.) led Monmouth with 14 points and eight rebounds as the Hawks pulled a stunner, defeating Villanova, 49-48, to win the Hawk Holiday Classic in West Long Branch on Friday. Martin found the range on six of 11 attempts from the floor and two of three from the foul line. Monmouth defeated Norfolk State, 69-62, on Thursday to advance to the title game. Martin scored six points and took down seven caroms in this contest. The Hawks are now 5-8 on the season.  

Montclair State’s Michelle Montagna (New Providence, Jr.) scored nine points as the Red Hawks defeated Hamilton, 70-55, in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Friday. Montagna shot 4-for-11 from the floor, including 1-for-6 from the Speedway. Montclair is now 8-4.

WRESTLING

Matt Fullowan (Berkeley Heights, Jr.) took sixth place in the 174-pound bracket at the Mat-Town Invitational in Lock Haven, Pa. on Thursday. He started the action with decisions over Pittsburgh’s Patrick Tasser, 5-3, and VMI’s Matthew Brock, 3-1. He was then pinned at 2:32 by eventual champion Justin Zeerip of Michigan. After a close loss to Stephen West of Columbia in the consolation bracket, Fullowan settled for sixth place after falling, 3-2, to Mike Dessino of Bloomsburg.