Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark used a strong finish to fend off Rowan University, 81-65, in The Golden Dome Arena and stay tied for the New Jersey Athletic Conference lead with one game remaining.

Junior guards John Snow and Doze Ikwuegbu each netted a game-high 19 points to pace four Scarlet Raiders in double figures as Rutgers-Newark (18-6, NJAC 14-3) completed a regular-season series sweep of the Profs (12-12, NJAC 7-10).  Snow chalked up his second double-double this season against Rowan, hauling down a game-high 12 rebounds while adding three assists.  Ikwuegbu connected on five of nine long-range jumpers while adding five rebounds and three assists.

Junior forward Christian Garcia turned in a vintage performance with 16 points, eight rebounds and game-highs of five assists and five steals.  Junior guard Chris Foreman came off the bench to knock down two of three shots from beyond the arc on his way to 11 points and a pair of assists.

LOUGHRAN, GARCIA HONORED IN PRE-GAME CEREMONY

Sophomore forward David Azoroh worked inside for eight points and five rebounds to help the Raiders dominate the boards, 44-32.  Reserve forwards Jordan McDaniel and Allen Kuiper came in to tally four points and four rebounds each.

Senior guard Rich McNamara paced the Profs with 16 points and eight rebounds while sophomore guard Kris O'Connor totaled 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists as Rowan saw a 3-game winning streak snapped.  Senior forward Matt Whitworth drained three of five 3-point shots to finish with nine points while senior guard Phil Jackson collected eight points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

The Raiders led for the entire second half after a tense opening period, but Rowan would not let Rutgers-Newark break away until the final minutes.  A trey by Ikwuegbu staked the home team to a 63-48 lead with 12:26 left, but McNamara and O'Connor had four points apiece as Rowan responded with an 8-0 run.  A McNamara layup off of an assist from O'Connor made it 63-56 with 9:47 remaining.

An Ikwuegbu three put Rutgers-Newark up by double digits seconds later, but the Profs stayed close.  A layup by Jackson with 1:58 left put the score at 73-65.  But that was the end of the road for Rowan.

Layups by Foreman and Snow came ahead of back-to-back thunderous dunks by Azoroh and Garcia to end any suspense.

There were eight lead changes and three ties in the see-saw first period which ended in a 37-37 deadlock at the break.  McDaniel started a 9-1 Raider run with a 3-point jumper which ended with a Snow jump shot with 11:17 left in the half to give Rutgers-Newark its biggest lead of the period at 21-14.  But, McNamara and O'Connor netted four points each as the Profs responded with a 14-1 run.  A trey by Whitworth put Rowan up 28-22 with 6:32 on the clock.  The Raiders bounced back with a 13-2 spree finished by a pair of Garcia free throws to make it 35-30, Rutgers-Newark, with 3:15 left.  Rowan got a trey from O'Connor with 1:21 remaining and a free throw from Jackson in the final minute of the period to return the game to a draw.

Rutgers-Newark shot 50.9% (29-57) from the floor, making nine of 15 long-range jumpers, to break the 80-point barrier for the third straight game.

The Raiders downed Rowan by exactly the same score on January 18 in Glassboro.

The victory puts the Raiders, winners of 12 of their last 13 games, in command of their own destiny entering the NJAC Championship Tournament which begins next Saturday.  Tied atop the 10-team league with Richard Stockton (20-4, NJAC 14-3) entering  the final regular-season game, Rutgers-Newark needs to win Wednesday to guarantee a first-round bye in the 6-team playoff for a second straight season.

Rutgers-Newark travels to Kean on Wednesday for a regular-season ending NJAC doubleheader.  The women's game tips off at 6 with the men to follow at 8.