BROOKLYN, NY – Senior forward
Ryan Gillens exploded for a career-high 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made three steals as Rutgers-Newark raced past Medgar Evers, 102-67, in the Carroll Street Gymnasium.
Rutgers-Newark 102, Medgar Evers 67
Gillens hit 10 of 13 shots from the floor and seven of nine free throws to better his previous career high in scoring by 10 points. He had 15 points, six rebounds and all three of his steals in the opening half when the Scarlet Raider (12-5) jumped out to a 53-26 lead.
Guards
Greg Moore and
James Johnson, who each finished with 18 points, netted 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the opening period as Rutgers-Newark led by as many as 29 points.
The Raiders pushed the lead to 83-47 midway the second period against the Cougars (8-9). Rutgers-Newark, which snapped a two-game losing streak, topped the century mark for the first time since rolling to a 110-61 win over Medgar Evers in The Golden Dome in the first game of the 2008-09 season.
Freshman guard
Al-Don Muhammad dished out a career-high seven assists while sophomore forward
Ralph Jones netted eight points. Senior forward
Phil Barnes notched seven rebounds and six points while senior guard
Tim Smith tallied five points, four rebounds and three assists.
Senior guard Ronald Holloway paced Medgar Evers with 12 points and six rebounds while senior guard Kallai Sharpe chipped in 15 points, five assists and two steals. Freshman forward Jarrel Deare had 11 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots for the Cougars. Freshman forward Kevin Felix added a game-high three blocked shots and six rebounds while junior forward Marquis Jones contributed nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
The Raiders shot 50% or better in each half, making 37 of 72 shots from the floor – including 10 of 20 from beyond the arc. Rutgers-Newark also dominated the rebounding, 54-34.
Rutgers-Newark hosts SUNY Cobleskill in The Golden Dome on Wednesday night at 7 before returning to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Kean.
