Box Score
BALTIMORE, MD – Rutgers-Newark shot a torrid 59% from the floor to scorch CCNY, 91-71, in the consolation game of the Blue Jay Invitational in Johns Hopkins's Goldfarb Gym.
The Scarlet Raiders (8-5) shot a sizzling 58.8% (20-34) in the opening half to build a 49-33 lead behind the shooting of junior center
Hussein Abdelmaksoud and freshman guard
Mikal Demby who combined to connect on seven of nine shots. Abdelmaksoud went four for five from the floor while Demby, who had taken just three shots all season and was making his first career start, made three of four.
The Beavers got no closer than 13 points in the second half as R-N hit 59.3% (16-27) of its field goal tries. The Raiders set season highs for points, bench points (32), field goal percentage and free throw percentage (11-11) while having five players in double-figure scoring for the second time this season.
The only bump in the road was a disparity in free throws with CCNY making 26 of 43 while the Raider got only 11 attempts. Rutgers-Newark was whistled for 30 personal fouls and four technical fouls while the Beavers drew only 15 calls including two player technicals. R-N senior guard
Greg Moore, who was named to the all-tournament team, played just 17 minutes before fouling out with five points, three rebounds and three steals.
Senior guard
Pedro Burgos, who netted a team-high 17 points while dishing out six assists, hit three of four shots from beyond the arc to help the Raiders make eight of 15 long range jumpers. Freshman swingman
Christian Garcia had his second double-double of the season with 13 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.
Junior point guard
Al'Don Muhammad tallied a dozen points and six assists to tie Burgos for game honors while senior swingman
Jeremiah Rivers piled up 15 points and five rebounds. Abdelmaksoud finished with 10 points and six rebounds while Demby tallied all seven of his career-high point total in the opening half.
The Raiders nearly had six players in double figure points as freshman guard
Doze Ikwuegbu notched nine points as nine of 11 R-N players scored in the game.
Senior guard Hector Hernandez had a game-high 25 points plus six rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Beavers while junior point guard Israel Vickers added 14 points and three assists. Junior guard Terence Johnston finished with 11 points and four rebounds for CCNY while junior forward Wayne Backus chipped in 10 points.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak which was the first for the Raiders since back-to-back losses to open the season. Prior to consecutive losses to Penn State Behrend and Hood College, R-N had reeled off five straight wins.
The Beavers (1-12) lost for the 11th straight time – a streak started on November 22 with a 62-52 loss to the Raiders in New York.
Rutgers-Newark reenters New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday at The College of New Jersey. The Raider and Lion women tip off at 1 p.m. with the men's game set for 3 o'clock.
