Â鶹´«Ã½ Basketball Coach Gerry Matthews' 600th Win Makes N.J. History
Â鶹´«Ã½ head coach Gerry Matthews collected his 600th career victory with
a 76-56 triumph over Kean University (4-18, 4-12 NJAC) on February 13, 2016. Matthews
became just the 16th coach in Division III history and sixth active coach to reach
600 wins, making him the winningest coach in New Jersey men's college basketball history.
In 30 seasons on the Â鶹´«Ã½ bench, he has won eight NJAC championships and been
voted NJAC Coach of the Year nine times. Matthews has led Â鶹´«Ã½ to 15 NCAA Tournament
berths and two trips to the Final Four (1987, 2009). During his three decades at Â鶹´«Ã½,
his teams have never had a losing season.
In his 600th winning game, the Ospreys (18-6, 13-4 NJAC) forced 24 turnovers that
led to 33 points in the game. Â鶹´«Ã½ shot 50 percent (12-24) in the first half and
methodically pulled out to a 34-24 halftime advantage. The Ospreys jumped out quickly,
forging ahead 15-2 in the first 6:12 of the half. Marcus Harmon of Middle Township
in Cape May County, N.J. nailed two three-pointers during the run, on his way to 10
first-half points.
Â鶹´«Ã½ stretched the advantage to as many as 16 points at 34-18 on a three-pointer
by Kashaun Barnes (Toms River/Manchester Twp.) before the Cougars scored six points
in the last 2:31 of the first stanza to cut the lead to 34-24 at the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern as Â鶹´«Ã½ gradually pulled away. The
margin reached 28 (69-41) on a three-pointer by Jaymere Hadden of Millville, N.J.
with 4:46 left before both teams cleared the benches to finish out the contest and
give Matthews his 600th win at 76-56.
Matthews Coaching Milestones
- First win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 66, Ramapo 65 (November 23, 1985)
- 100th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 78, Kean 70 (February 17, 1990)
- 200th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 59, Kean 50 (February 14, 1996)
- 300th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 69, Marywood 46 (November 16, 2001)
- 400th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 80, Rutgers-Camden 50 (January 31, 2007)
- 500th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 83, North Carolina Wesleyan 60 (January 3, 2012)
- 515th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 78, Farmingdale State 58 (November 17, 2012) – NJ state record
- 600th win: Â鶹´«Ã½ 76, Kean 56 (February 13, 2016)
