Undefated No More: McGhee's 40 Points Boosts Herkimer Over No. 2 Mohawk Valley
In a highly anticipated matchup between two NJCAA powerhouses, the No. 6 ranked Herkimer Generals delivered a statement win, defeating previously 19-1 Mohawk Valley Community College, 77-66, in front of a lively home crowd.
The Generals (18-3, 10-1) showcased a balanced attack and tenacious defense, outscoring Mohawk Valley in both halves (37-29 in the first and 40-37 in the second) to secure the crucial conference victory.
McGhee's Masterclass Leads the Way
Sophomore guard Jayson McGhee (New Rochelle, NY) put on an offensive clinic, exploding for 40 points on an efficient 12-of-19 shooting, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. McGhee's relentless scoring not only kept the Generals ahead but also demoralized the Mohawk Valley defense every time they attempted a comeback. McGhee's 40 points is the most in a game since 2014 when Jon Feiler scored 40 against Fulton-Montgomery CC.
MOST POINTS IN A GAME (SINCE 2012-13)
| NAME | POINTS | OPPONENT | DATE |
| Jayson McGhee | 40 | Mohawk Valley CC | 02/08/25 |
| Jon Feiler | 40 | Fulton-Montgomery | 02/06/14 |
| Derrick Felder | 38 | North Country | 01/24/18 |
| Tyquan Scott | 38 | ASA Brooklyn | 02/03/17 |
| Nick Boyce | 34 | Fulton-Montgomery | 02/21/24 |
| Tyquan Scott | 34 | at Tompkins Cortland | 11/15/16 |
| Tyquan Scott | 34 | at Schenectady | 02/22/17 |
| Tyquan Scott | 34 | North Country | 02/25/17 |
| Jon Feiler | 34 | Monroe | 12/11/13 |
| Derrick Felder | 33 | at Onondaga | 12/09/17 |
| Derrick Felder | 32 | at Corning | 11/18/17 |
| Wendall Williams | 32 | Anoka-Ramsey | 03/14/14 |
| Jon Feiler | 32 | Redemption Christian | 01/07/14 |
| Jayden Norris | 31 | SUNY Adirondack | 01/25/25 |
| Brandon Harris | 31 | MN North-Rainy River | 03/14/24 |
| Jayson McGhee | 31 | at Tompkins-Cortland | 02/11/24 |
| Shykell Brown | 31 | Cayuga | 01/07/20 |
| Derrick Felder | 31 | Monroe | 01/12/19 |
| Wendall Williams | 31 | Lincoln College (NE) | 03/15/14 |
| Jayson McGhee | 30 | at Columbia-Greene | 02/07/24 |
| Oladele Oladitan | 30 | Onondaga | 12/11/23 |
| Shykell Brown | 30 | Mohawk Valley | 01/29/20 |
| Tyquan Scott | 30 | Onondaga | 12/10/16 |
| Kenny Woodard | 30 | Sandhills | 03/14/15 |
| Jon Feiler | 30 | Mohawk Valley | 01/29/14 |
| Jon Feiler | 30 | Lincoln College (NE) | 03/15/14 |
Supporting Cast Shines
While McGhee stole the show, the Generals' depth played a key role. Freshman Xavier Cardona (Staten Island, NY) added 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, while sophomore Jayden Norris (St. Louis, MO) contributed 7 points with clutch three-point shooting. Off the bench, freshman Josiah Smith (Poughkeepsie, NY) provided a spark with 9 points and 4 assists, demonstrating Herkimer's depth and unselfish play.
Defensively, sophomore Oladele Oladitan (Staten Island, NY) dominated the boards with 8 rebounds, adding 6 points and 5 assists, anchoring the Generals' defensive presence.
Team Stats Tell the Story
Herkimer's shooting efficiency proved decisive. The Generals shot 43.9% from the field and an impressive 44.4% from three-point range, while holding Mohawk Valley to 41.4% overall and just 22.2% from beyond the arc. The Generals also capitalized at the free-throw line, going 19-of-24 compared to Mohawk Valley's 4-of-5. Defensively, Herkimer forced 16 turnovers and tallied 8 steals, with McGhee and Cardona each grabbing 2 steals. Their aggressive defense kept Mohawk Valley off-balance and limited their second-chance opportunities despite a strong rebounding effort from Mohawk's Isaiah Earl, who collected 11 rebounds.
