Box Score

EWING, NJ – Rutgers-Newark used smothering defense for a 59-51 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over The College of New Jersey in Packer Hall.

Junior guard John Snow poured in 22 points as the Scarlet Raiders (9-5, NJAC 5-2) got all of their scoring from the starting five while the Lions (5-8, NJAC 3-4) connected on just 13 field goals with 22 per cent accuracy.  The field goals allowed and shooting percentage by the opponent were season lows for Rutgers-Newark.

In a game that saw 14 lead changes and seven ties, senior forward Joe Kane dropped in a pair of free throws to give the Lions their last lead at 48-47 with 5:01 on the clock.

The Raiders responded by shutting out TCNJ over the next four and a half minutes.  The 7-0 run gave them the lead for good as junior forward Christian Garcia knocked down three of four free throws, and Snow and junior guard Doze Ikwuegbu connected on jump shots.  That decisive sequence staked Rutgers-Newark to a 54-48 lead with just 1:28 left.

After junior forward Skyelar Ettin cashed in a pair of free throws to trim the Lions' deficit to 54-51 with 1:14 remaining, the Raiders closed out the scoring on a free throw and a dunk by Snow and a pair of charity tosses by Ikwuegbu.

Snow made both of his 3-point attempts while connecting on nine of 15 shots overall.  It was his seventh 20-point outburst of the season.  He added five rebounds and two blocked shots.

Garcia finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists while Ikwuegbu and sophomore forward David Azoroh netted 10 points apiece.  Ikwuegbu posted three rebounds, three assists and three steals while Azoroh hauled down six rebounds and blocked a season-high four shots.

Sophomore guard Rahim Bunch hit three of five shots from the floor to account for the other Raider points as the TCNJ bench out-scored the Raiders, 22-0.

Ettin came off the bench to be the only Lion in double figures with 10 points.  Junior guard Jayson Johnson and freshman guard Eric Klacik scored eight apiece for TCNJ which lost in conference play for the first time in four games.

Rutgers-Newark ran its win streak to three games.

The Raiders host Kean in an NJAC doubleheader on Wednesday in The Golden Dome Arena.  The women's game tips off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8.