Brookdale Jersey Blues Men’s Basketball Are The 2023 NJCAA National Champions!

The Brookdale Community College Jersey Blues defeated top-seed North Carolina’s Sandhills Community College Flyers in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship title game! Sophomore Kevin Mateo, from Hackensack, scored 31 points and was named the tournament MVP. The game was played in front of a passionate hometown crowd at Herkimer College in New York.

Despite being behind at halftime, the Blues fought back and took the lead in the second half with the help of some clutch steals and baskets by Kevin Mateo, Andre Wells, and Nick Williams. With just 25.6 seconds left on the clock, Brookdale led by five points, securing their well-deserved victory with a final score of 90-82.

The Blues entered the tournament as the #3 seed with an impressive 27-3 season record and the North Atlantic District Champions which earned them a bye in the first round. They then defeated #11 College of DuPage 77-62 in the quarterfinals and #10 Rochester Community & Technical College 76-62 in the semifinals to secure their spot in the championship game.

Throughout the tournament, key players Kevin Mateo, Nick Williams, Josiah Basket, Niles Halliburton, Devin Strickland, and Darnell Askew contributed to the team’s success with impressive performances on both offense and defense.

This is the third National Championship title in school history for the Brookdale Community College Jersey Blues, a remarkable achievement that reflects their hard work, dedication, and talent. Congratulations to the team, their coaches, and the athletic department on a fantastic season and a well-deserved victory!