Morales Leads Balanced Attack as Essex Men’s Basketball Rolls to 108 Points

Newark, NJ- The Essex County College men's basketball team put together a complete performance, showcasing depth, toughness, and unselfish play in a 108-point offensive outburst.

Gabriel Morales set the tone for Essex, pouring in a game-high 25 points on an efficient 8-for-14 shooting, knocking down both of his three-point attempts and converting 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Morales consistently attacked the basket and came up big in key moments to keep the offense flowing.

Essex controlled the paint all night, led by Rodney Willis Jr., who finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while shooting 6-of-9 from the floor. Jason Martinez anchored the glass as well, pulling down 11 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists, helping Essex dominate the boards 65–43.

The Wolverines also got a strong all-around effort from Ethan Laquindanum, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, along with 5 assists and 3 steals, while Gavin Wright and the Essex defense applied steady pressure, forcing turnovers and creating transition opportunities.

Essex's bench made a major impact, outscoring opponents with energy and efficiency. Christian Hampton contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Ryan English added 13 points, hitting 2 three-pointers and going a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Blake Flores-Duncan chipped in 7 points on a perfect shooting night, and Jaden Reid added 8 points and 3 assists to keep the tempo high.

As a team, Essex shot 44.3% from the field, went 23-of-29 from the foul line, and totaled 25 assists, highlighting the team's unselfish approach on the offensive end.

With contributions up and down the roster and strong defensive effort throughout, Essex County College delivered a statement performance and showed why they are a team to watch moving forward.

The next game will be away at Mercer County Community College Jan. 31st at 2pm.