Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – Rutgers-Newark erupted for 48 second-half points to pull away from Rowan for an 81-65 New Jersey Athletic Conference victory in Esby Gym.

Junior guard John Snow notched his second double-double of the season with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to help the Scarlet Raiders (11-5, NJAC 7-2) control the boards, 49-24.  Sophomore forward Jordan McDaniel hit six of eight shots – and both of his 3-point jumpers – as Rutgers-Newark shot 51.9 per cent from the floor.  The Raiders made six of 10 shots from beyond the arc.

Junior guard Doze Ikwuegbu added 13 points and four rebounds as the Raiders won their fifth straight league game to stay in a tie for the NJAC lead at the midway point of the conference season.  Junior forward Christian Garcia tallied nine points, five rebounds and two assists while sophomore forward David Azoroh worked inside for eight points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.  Off the bench, sophomore guard Rahim Bunch hauled down a career-high seven rebounds while junior forward Allen Kuiper totaled five points and five rebounds.

Sophomore guard Chris O'Connor paced the Profs (7-9, NJAC 2-7) with 19 points, six rebounds and three steals.  Senior guard Jason Rosenberg chipped in 17 points and three steals while senior guard Rich McNamara scored a dozen and collared a team-high eight rebounds.  Senior guard Tim McDaniels finished with 10 points for Rowan which lost its fifth straight NJAC decision.

After making just 37.5 per cent (9-24) of its field goal tries in the first period, Rutgers-Newark made 19 of 30 shots in the second half – a scorching 63.3 per cent – behind six for eight accuracy by Snow and five for seven marksmanship by McDaniel.

Snow had six points on three field goals as the Raiders opened the second half with a 10-0 run to push their lead to a 43-31 with 15:49 left.  Rowan battled back to within four points twice before Rutgers-Newark pulled away to lead by as many as 18 in the final minute.

Rutgers-Newark got extraordinarily balanced scoring during the opening period to cling to a 33-31 edge at the break after freshman guard Darrian Collins sank a pair of free throws with 48 ticks remaining.  Ikwuegbu netted six points while eight of nine players used scored for the Raiders who threatened to break open the game over the first 13 minutes.  A layup by Ikwuegbu pushed the Rutgers-Newark lead to 28-18 with 6:52 on the clock, but Rowan held the Raiders to just four points during the final 5:30 of the half to claw their way back into the fray.  The Raiders forged a 22-14 advantage in rebounding and Ikwuegbu, Snow, McDaniel and junior guard Chris Foreman drained 3-point jumpers.  Rowan countered by scoring 10 points off of a dozen Rutgers-Newark turnovers in the period.

The Raiders stayed in a three-way knot atop the NJAC with Richard Stockton (13-2, NJAC 7-2) and William Paterson (12-3, NJAC 7-2).

Rutgers-Newark hosts Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday night in an NJAC doubleheader in The Golden Dome Arena.  The women's game tips off at 6 with the men to follow at 8.