Piscataway used a stifling defense and a balanced attack led by senior Vaughn Turner to knock Johnson from the undefeated ranks while stretching its own win streak to seven games with an 87-43 victory Saturday in Piscataway.

The 6-3 Turner compiled a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and 6-4 junior teammate Donald Nwaigwe did the same with 12 points, 10 rebounds as the Chiefs improved to 19-4 and sent Johnson to its first loss in 20 games.

The Crusaders had been the last undefeated team in New Jersey.

It was a thorough defensive display from start to finish for Piscataway, as it limited the Crusaders to a season-low 43 points and held every individual to single digits for the first time this season.

Junior forward Devin Patterson led Johnson with nine points, and junior guard Ryan Malcolm had eight.

Senior guard Nate Davis scored 12 points and came up with three steals, junior guard John Lima had nine points and two steals, and sophomore guard Landon Pernell contributed eight points and six assists for the Chiefs.

During the current seven-game win streak under first-year head coach Bob Turco, Piscataway has allowed just 49.8 ppg. to move closer to becoming the first Chief squad to win 20 games since the 2017-18 team went 23-4. The 2007-08 club holds the program record for victories at 24-5.

The second-seeded Chiefs will seek out that 20th victory Thursday in the first round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament against the winner of Tuesday's game between 18th-seeded Edison and 15th-seeded North Brunswick.

Johnson looks to rebound Monday at home against Summit in the Union County Tournament preliminary round. The Crusaders are seeded No. 12, and Summit No. 13.