Ramapo College extends undefeated streak to seven games

Thomas Bonacum (Ramapo Athletics)

Last Saturday at the Bradley Center was a true benchmark test for the Ramapo College Roadrunners facing the three-time defending NJAC Champions Stockton Ospreys. The Roadrunners were not deterred by the challenge led by leading scorer senior Thomas Bonacum pouring in a game high 33 points while pulling down 16 rebounds and recording five steals as Ramapo rolled past the Ospreys 86-69.

“A big win against Stockton and three-time defending champs,” Ramapo College Head Coach Chuck McBreen said. “We just didn’t beat them but pounded them. Tommy with 33 points, 16 rebounds and five steals and NJAC Player Of The Week and was phenomenal in our three wins last week.”

On Wednesday night, the Roadrunners traveled to Rutgers-Newark looking to keep their perfect record intact. The Scarlet-Raiders kept it close into the second half by milking the shot clock on each offensive possession. Freshman guard Connor Romano (7 points) ignited a spark off the bench knocking two shots from beyond the arc extending the Ramapo College lead to 26-15 with seven minutes remaining. The Roadrunners defense clamped down defensively as well holding Rutgers-Newark without a point for 8 minutes taking a 28-19 halftime lead.

“Nick Stanek gave us some really good minutes off the bench and Connor was excellent in the first half,” said McBreen.

In the second half, Ramapo College amped up the defensive intensity causing numerous turnovers and shot clock violations. Meanwhile, senior forward Sultan Aminu took over dominating in the paint dropping in 9 of his game-high 17 points while receiving contributions from teammate junior forward Christopher Moseley chipping in with 14 points. The Roadrunners built the lead up to 43-24 with 14 minutes left on a spectacular left-handed baseline lay-up by Thomas Bonacum (13 points). Rutgers-Newark refused to back down going on a 10-0 run. Ramapo College responded going on a 13-2 run to pull away for the 68-46 victory improving to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in the NJAC.

“They were missing their best player (Tyler Ofray) who averages 19 a game and a different game tonight and within five points and down to the wire,” McBreen said. “If we’re going to be a champion when we get it up to 19 it’s got to go up to 25 or 30 and put them away. They had a lot of young guys and underclassmen and we have upperclassmen and have to have the killer instinct.”

“Rutgers-Newark slowed down the game and went to a delay game and we tried to speed the game up. We lead with points in the paint and by turning people over and won that battle tonight 25-14. We try to win that battle by 10 every game and lead to transition points and are easy baskets and huge for us.”

The Roadrunners return to Bradley Center on Saturday afternoon against Kean University(0-4, 0-7 NJAC) with tip-off at 3:00 p.m.

“A big game on Saturday and this week we wanted to get in the Top 25,” said McBreen. “We’re 42^nd and trying to get to 9-0. Salisbury is 15^th in the country and undefeated and first round opponent in Las Vegas. We have beaten the teams in front of us and now going to be tested.”