Targum defeats WRSU in 3rd annual spring basketball game
The Daily Targum took on WRSU for the third annual spring student media basketball game on March 28. The Targum rolled to a 63-48 win over WRSU at Jersey Mike's Arena on Livingston campus.
The victory gave the Targum back-to-back wins in the media series and a 2-1 record since the series was rebooted back in 2022.
Rutgers, WRSU and Targum alumni Gideon Fox and Jack Bisaha broadcasted the game for WRSU on 88.7 FM and wrsu.org, and the game was live-streamed on YouTube courtesy of RVision. Rutgers alum Ed Kalegi was the public address announcer for the event. Many other distinguished guests attended, such as Rutgers, WRSU and Targum alumni Chris Tsakonas and Dylan McCoy, as well as Joseph Rivera, a current Rutgers professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies.
The game featured referees for the first time and four quarters with a 12-minute clock per quarter. WRSU was coached by Rutgers and WRSU alum Brett Hawn, and the Targum was coached by former associate news editor Uriel Isaacs.
Before the game, John Hartnett, a School of Management and Labor Relations senior, played the national anthem on bass as approximately 50 fans lined the stands of the arena to watch.
The game was a physical and intense affair that brought out the best of both sides. The teams showed lots of heart and skill.
The first quarter featured many blown layups and missed shots as both teams struggled to score. Chase Jacoby, a School of Communication and Information freshman, drilled a three-pointer for WRSU early in the contest, and Camden Markel, a School of Communication and Information junior and current associate sports editor, hit a tough shot from the short corner in the final minutes of the first quarter to give the Targum a 9-5 lead heading into the second.
The second quarter featured a lot more scoring as both teams fully settled in.
Frankie Palumbo, a School of Communication and Information freshman, gave WRSU a 10-9 lead early in the second quarter on a putback layup. Shortly after, though, the Targum regained the lead and went on an 11-2 scoring run thanks to the efforts of Noah Ohayon and Philip Jaccoma, School of Communication and Information sophomores.
With approximately 3 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Targum took its biggest lead of the half when Evan Leong, a School of Communication and Information graduate student, fired a halfcourt pass to Ohayon, who tipped it to himself and converted the layup, giving the Targum a 28-14 lead.
With WRSU down 14, the team began to show pressure as Brendan Kelly, a School of Communication and Information junior, led the charge, causing multiple turnovers and initiating the offense. The quick spurt from WRSU ended when Ellis Gordon, a School of Communication and Information senior and former head sports editor, knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Palumbo would respond for WRSU by sneaking behind the defense and converting a floater as the Targum went into halftime with a 31-21 lead.
At halftime, Alex Carmenaty, a School of Communication and Information senior, performed a rousing yet astonishingly long halftime show that featured a duet with Jackson DiLullo, a School of Communication and Information senior.
WRSU came out on fire to start the third quarter, going on its own 11-2 run. With approximately 6 minutes remaining, WRSU pulled within 1 point of the Targum after Phillip Christy, a School of Communication and Information sophomore, splashed a three-point shot, and Kelly drove by Leong for the tough layup.
With the Targum facing adversity for the first time in the game, Ohayon took over, driving into the lane for 2 points, scoring a layup on a fast break and knocking down a step-back three-pointer from the right wing.
The Targum had a 7-point lead with the third quarter winding down before Max Sanchez, a School of Communication and Information junior, drilled a deep three-pointer from the Jersey Mike's logo. With the Targum lead cut to 4 points, Gabriel Mendez, a School of Communication and Information junior, turned up with two steals, an assist and a euro step layup, giving the Targum a 50-40 lead heading into the final quarter.
Mendez stayed hot in the fourth quarter, drilling a three-point shot in the opening seconds. A few minutes later, Leong stepped into a three-pointer to grow the Targum's lead to 16 points.
The game would slow down in the final 6 minutes with Nick Hart, a School of Communication and Information junior, registering a highlight block, and Matthew Mangam, a School of Communication and Information sophomore, dishing out an assist.
The Targum would see out the 15-point victory from there.
Ohayon was the MVP of the game, as he scored a record 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Mendez played strong defense throughout the game, reflected by his game-high six steals. Leong scored 9 points, and Markel stuffed the stat sheet with 5 points, five rebounds and a game-high six assists.
Palumbo led WRSU with 12 points, with Sanchez coming close behind, scoring 10. Kelly had a complete game performance, scoring 11 points, dishing out five assists and bringing in 12 rebounds. Kelly was everywhere for WRSU, though he did pick up seven fouls.
As the final buzzer sounded, both teams shook hands, took pictures and exchanged hugs as the 2024 student media basketball game proved to be a success. With the Targum owning a 2-1 series lead, both teams have agreed in principle to play again in 2025.
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