NJCAA Game 3: Monroe 71, Morris 70

Mar. 18—DANVILLE — It can be as simple as the bounce of the basketball to determine the winning and losing teams in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

Sophomore Jonathan Edwards from the County College of Morris experienced both in a first-round contest against Monroe Community College at the Mary Miller Gymnasium.

Edwards was fouled and went to the line with 2.4 seconds left and his Titans trailing the Tribunes 71-69.

His first attempt bounced off the side of the rim, up into the air and through the basket. He wasn't as fortunate with his next shot as it was right on line but hit the back iron and bounced out.

Monroe secured the rebound and a 71-70 victory.

"When No. 5 (Edwards), who is a helluva player, shot that second one — I thought it was in," said Monroe coach Jerry Burns. "We just got the bounce and we were lucky. Morris plays so hard, I knew we had to try to match their aggressiveness and we were just fortunate to get the victory."

Burns pointed out that his Tribunes (25-6) have had to show a lot of grit this season just to make the National Tournament.

Freshman Davon Ellison make 3-of-4 at the line in the game's final 21 seconds for Monroe, who gave up 22 offensive rebounds and committed 18 turnovers.

"I don't think we played well, but we got the 'W' and that's all that really matters," Burns added.

Terrell Williams had a double-double for the Tribunes with a team-high 19 points and 11 rebounds to go along with a team-high five assists. Jaden Fleming had 13 points, while Treymaire Dodd had a team-high 12 rebounds.

Edwards, who was 16-of-19 at the free-throw line, had a game-high 30 points for the Titans, while Jagger Ruiz added 25 in the losing effort.

Monroe advances to play Ellsworth Community College in the second round on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Monroe Community College 71, County College of Morris 70

Morris (70) — Samir Jordan 1-11 5-8 7, Jonathan Edwards 7-15 16-19 30, Jagger Ruiz 8-21 5-9 25, Daniel Oravbiere 3-7 1-2 7, Henry Kasunmu 0-1 0-0 0, Hazir Lee 0-5 1-2 1, Matthew Nidermaier 0-1 0-0 0, Andrew Niedermaier 0-2 0-2 0, David Joseph 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-65 28-42 70.

Monroe (71) — Terrell Williams 6-9 7-10 19, Jaden Fleming 3-7 6-8 13, Treymaire Dodd 1-4 3-4 6, Kennedy Tyree 0-5 0-0 0, Mohamed Sournahoro 2-3 1-2 5, Francisco Mattei 1-4 0-0 2, Omar White 1-1 0-0 2, Davon Ellison 1-3 5-6 7, Ibrahima Bah 0-0 1-2 1, J'Zhuan Davis 1-3 2-2 5, Iranzi Christian 1-3 0-0 3, Yousef Farag 2-4 4-6 8. Totals: 19-46 29-40 71.

Morris '30 '40 '— '70

Monroe '28 '43 '— '71

3-pointers — Morris 4-20 (Ruiz 4-11, Jordan 0-2, Edwards 0-1, Kasunmu 0-1, Lee 0-3, A.Niedermeier 0-2). Monroe 4-18 (Fleming 1-3, Dodd 1-3, Davis 1-1, Christian 1-1, Williams 0-2, Tyree 0-2, Mattei 0-3, Ellison 0-1, Farag 0-2). Rebounds — Morris 39 (Oravbiere 13). Monroe 46 (Dodd 12, Williams 11). Assists — Morris 4 (Ruiz 2, M.Niedermaier 2). Monroe 12 (Williams 5). Turnovers — Morris 9, Monroe 18. Total fouls — Morris 23, Monroe 21. Technical fouls — Henry Kasunmu, Kennedy Tyree. Fouled out — Fleming.

Records — County College of Morris 21-8 overall, Monroe Community College 25-6.