Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark shut down Montclair State's attack for an 80-47 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in The Golden Dome Arena.

The Scarlet Raiders (14-4, NJAC 8-3) bounced back from a heart-breaking 62-61 overtime loss to Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday by limiting the Red Hawks (5-12, NAJC 2-9) to just 31% (22-71) field goal accuracy overall.  Montclair State missed all 16 of its 3-point jumpers while Rutgers-Newark dominated the rebounding, 51-30.

Sophomore guard Doze Ikwuegbu hit three of five jumpers from beyond the arc to lead the balanced Raiders with 13 points while freshman forward David Azoroh came off the bench for 13 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.  Senior center Fateen Belfield worked inside for a dozen points and a team-high eight rebounds. 

Sophomore swingman Christian Garcia chipped in 11 points, four rebounds and four assists while freshman guard Rahim Bunch came off the bench for four assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Senior guard Al'Don Muhammad tallied nine points and three assists while senior center Hussein Abdelmaksoud posted eight points and four rebounds in just 11 minutes of play.

No Red Hawk reached double digits in scoring.  Junior forward Ordel Goldson paced MSU with nine points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.   Sophomore forward Chris Torres hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds while adding seven points for the Red Hawks.

The game was close until Azoroh dropped in five of six free throws during a 15-5 Raider rally which pushed their lead to 34-23 with1:32 left in the opening period.  A driving layup by MSU sophomore guard James D'Angelo with six seconds left made it 34-25 at the break.

Ikwuegbu drained a pair of threes and scored eight points as Rutgers-Newark opened the second half with a 14-2 run which blew open the contest.  Both coaches went to their benches as the Raider lead swelled to as many as 35 points in the final minutes.

Rutgers-Newark pounded the ball into the paint for 40 points and used their inside strength to go to the free throw line 24 times.  The Raiders made 19 charity tosses while the Red Hawks made just three of six free throws.

The Raiders, who have now won eight of their last nine games as well as 12 of their last 14, completed a regular season series sweep against MSU.  They are in a second-place tie with Richard Stockton (12-4, NJAC 8-3) in the 10-team league with seven games remaining on the league slate.  Ramapo (16-2, NJAC 10-1) leads the pack.

Rutgers-Newark visits New Jersey City on Wednesday for an NJAC doubleheader.  The women's game tips off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8.