Bermudez leading Lions by example

There are players who score, players who rebound and then there are the program guys like Elias Bermudez who do a little bit of everything.

If anyone is looking for a reason The College of New Jersey (7-1, 4-0 NJAC) is on a seven-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s matchup with Scranton (2-7) the on and off the court leadership of Bermudez has been instrumental.

“It’s not really about me, but more about the program itself,” said Bermudez, one of the Lions’ captains. “TCNJ basketball is truly bigger than just this year or this team. It’s a program that has changed its mindset and is no longer content with being average.”

TCNJ, which reached the New Jersey Athletic Conference final two years ago and the semifinals last season, has not won a conference championship since the 199798 season.

“None of these changes in the program would have been possible without every single guy that has put on that uniform with me the last four years,” said Bermudez. “In my eyes, we are playing for something bigger than ourselves. We’re playing for the guys that didn’t get to go out the way they should have and trying to continue the program on a path that we all started together.”

After facing the Royals, the Lions are off until Dec. 29 when they travel to Reading to face Kenyon (4-3) in the Crown Plaza Holiday Tournament hosted by Albright (71). The fourth team is Penn State Harrisburg (4-4).

If there is a concern for Matt Goldsmith, the TCNJ coach, it would be that the Lions have played just one game in 23 days due to the postponement of the New Jersey City game on Dec. 9.

But the one constant from Goldsmith has been his appreciation of the job done by Bermudez and Eric Murdock Jr. as captains.

Murdock Jr. was recently named the NJAC Player of the Week after averaging 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a pair of wins.

As a four-year player, Bermudez has watched, listened and learned from those before him on how to be a good leader.

“I feel that my experience with the program as well as with the NJAC is something that allows me to perform well in this role,” said Bermudez, who averages six points and 4.8 rebounds per game. “I try to be both a vocal leader and one who leads by example. From my experience, the best leaders are the ones who follow the mindset of. “practice what you preach” and that is what I try to do every day.

“We got on this seven game winning streak by buying into our philosophy and just trusting one another. We are a very talented team and for us to be successful we need to make sure we are all on the same page.”