Summit's James Johnson leads Rutgers-Newark into NJAC Tournament

Summit's James Johnson leads No. 2 seed Rutgers-Newark (19-6, 9-4 NJAC) into tonight's matchup with No. 3 seed Kean (9-15) in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Golden Dome Athletic Center in Newark.

Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for general admission and $2 for students, senior citizens (65 years of age or older) and children (12 years of age or younger).

The winner faces two-time defending NJAC champion Richard Stockton (19-6) in the semifinals at the Stockton Sports Center in Pomona on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. The NJAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

In their last regular-season game, Rutgers-Newark defeated Ramapo on the road, 65-59, Wednesday (Johnson had 11 points) to eclipse a string of 18-win seasons (2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08) in the nine-year tenure of head coach Joe Loughran as the winningest season in Rutgers-Newark men's basketball history.

James Johnson, who helped the Hilltoppers' basketball team to a three-year record of 62-21 and back-to-back North II, Group 2 titles in his sophomore and junior seasons in 2004 and 2005, leads Rutgers-Newark in scoring with 354 points, including 54 3-pointers, and is averaging 14.8 ppg.

The 5-11 senior guard, who is majoring in Criminal Justice, scored a career-high 29 points in a 57-39 victory over New Jersey City University on Feb. 6.