Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark erased a 21-point second-half deficit to stun William Paterson, 68-62, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game in The Golden Dome Arena.

Senior guard Al'Don Muhammad netted 12 of his 14 points in the second half while senior center Hussein Abdelmaksoud scored all of his 10 as the Scarlet Raiders (15-6, NJAC 9-5) edged closer to securing one of six conference championship tournament berths while completing a regular-season series sweep of the Pioneers (13-8, NJAC 8-6).

Muhammad nailed a pair of treys in the decisive closing 13-2 run by Rutgers-Newark over the final 3:07.  Down 60-55, Muhammad drained a 3-pointer ahead of an answering layup by Pioneer freshman guard Bright Mensah.  But WPU would fail to score again.

Sophomore swingman Christian Garcia dropped in a pair of free throws before Abdelmaksoud put back a missed layup by Garcia with 1:51 left to knot the game at 62-62.  Forty-nine seconds later, Muhammad put the Raiders up for keeps with a three pointer.  In the final minute, Abdelmaksoud added a free throw and Garcia, a layup, to stretch the lead to six.

Garcia tallied a team-high 18 points while sophomore guard John Snow added 10 points by going eight-for-eight from the free throw line where the Raiders won the game.  The Pioneers made just 11 of 23 free throws while Rutgers-Newark poured in 21 of 30.

Freshman reserve center David Azoroh came off the bench to hit seven of 10 free throws on his way to nine points.  He also blocked two shots.  Muhammad and sophomore Doze Ikwuegbu dished off three assists apiece.

Senior guard Rick DeStefano hit five of six 3-point tries in the opening half to collect 17 of his game-high 22 points as the Pioneers constructed a 45-26 lead at the break.  WPU made seven of 13 long-range shots in the first 20 minutes while Rutgers-Newark made no threes and just eight field goals.

After senior forward Lance Brown, who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, scored inside just 30 seconds into the final period, the Raiders began the long process of reeling in the visitors.  Sophomore guard Jacques Conceicao piled up 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for WPU.

Muhammad drove through the lane for a conventional 3-point play in the middle of an 8-0 Raider run which got Rutgers-Newark within striking distance at 56-50 with 6:18 left.

Rutgers-Newark travels to The College of New Jersey on Saturday for an NJAC doubleheader.  The women's game tips off at 1 p.m. with the men to follow at 3.