Box Score

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Sophomore forward David Azoroh erupted for a career-high 30 points and Rutgers-Newark used a second-half rally to down Montclair State, 91-69, in the Panzer Athletic Center in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game.

Azoroh, whose previous high scoring effort came last January with 18 points against Rowan, connected on 13 of 17 field goals and four of five free throws while adding five rebounds as the Scarlet Raiders registered a season high in points.

Junior forward Christian Garcia notched five points and junior guard John Snow tallied four during a decisive 13-0 spurt in the second period which broke open a tight battle and staked the Raiders to a 53-37 lead with 13:52 left. 

After senior guard Daniel Singleton's layup brought the Red Hawks to within 40-37 with 18:01 left, Rutgers-Newark answered with the game-winning outburst.  MSU never threatened again as the Raiders pulled away to their biggest lead of the game at the end.

Rutgers-Newark (13-5, NJAC 9-2) ran its winning streak to seven games – all in the NJAC – while MSU (6-11, NJAC 3-8) lost its fourth consecutive league contest.  The win completed a Raider sweep of the regular-season series between the teams.  Rutgers-Newark moved into sole possession of first place in the NJAC - a half a game ahead of Richard Stockton (14-3, NJAC 8-2).  The Ospreys, who have a snow date against Kean on February 3, downed William Paterson (14-4, NJAC 8-3), 81-57, today to boost the Raiders to the top of the standings.

Snow finished with 17 points, five rebounds and a game-high five assists while Garcia notched seven points, two assists and three steals as Rutgers-Newark generated 23 points off of 16 MSU turnovers.  Sophomore forward Jordan McDaniel came off the bench for 10 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists while junior guard Chris Foreman made three of six shots from beyond the arc for nine points.

Singleton paced the Red Hawks with 21 points and five rebounds while sophomore guard Angel Gonzalez added 15 points and three assists.  Freshman guard Erick Loften-Harris contributed 13 points, two assists and three steals for MSU while sophomore forward Kevin McGorry netted 10 points.

The Red Hawks took a 35-28 lead with 2:17 left in the opening period when McGorry and Gonzalez wrapped 3-point jumpers around a layup by Loften-Harris on consecutive possessions.  The lightning-fast 8-0 run did not hold up as Foreman nailed a trey followed by a pair of free throws and a layup by McDaniel which sent the teams into the break deadlocked at 35-35.

The game featured four ties and 11 lead changes before the Raiders broke away in at the beginning of the second half.

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