Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – Juniors
David Azoroh and
Jordan McDaniel combined for 38 points and 18 rebounds to help Rutgers University-Newark topple Rowan University, 65-60, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game in The Golden Dome Arena.
Azoroh poured in a game-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds while McDaniel recorded his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Scarlet Raiders (12-4, NJAC 6-3) pulled into a tie for third place in NJAC standings with Rowan (12-3, NAJC 6-3) at the midpoint of the 18-game league schedule.
Rutgers-Newark led for the final 39 minutes of the game, but after trailing by as many as 15 points in the opening half, the Profs whittled their deficit to three points four times during the final 3:22 of the contest. Each time Azoroh helped push the Raider lead back to two possessions.
After freshman forward TJ Booth hit a layup to slice the Raider lead to 53-50, Azoroh drained a pair of free throws with 2:25 left to make it a 5-point game. After Rowan junior forward Ike Robinson nailed a 3-point jumper to make it 57-54 with 2:05 remaining, Azoroh went inside for a conventional 3-point play to give the Raiders a 6-point lead with 1:30 on the clock. Prof junior guard Kris O'Connor hit a layup with 42 ticks remaining before Azoroh made the first of two free throws to stake Rutgers-Newark to a 63-59 edge with 37 seconds to go. After O'Connor connected on a free throw with 27 seconds remaining to set the score at 63-60, Azoroh made the second of two charity tosses to up the lead to four just seconds later.
Senior center
Elvis Hodzic capped the scoring with a free throw in the final seconds as Rowan missed four shots – including a pair of treys – during the last 17 seconds.
Azoroh netted 11 points in the opening half as the Raiders constructed a 31-22 lead at intermission. Rutgers-Newark jumped out to a 21-6 lead during the first dozen minutes before the Profs began to find the range.
Senior forward
Allen Kuiper and junior guard
Vik Singh netted eight points apiece for the Raiders. Kuiper hauled down six rebounds while Singh drilled both of his long-range jumpers. Sophomore guard
Darrian Collins had a team-high four assists and five rebounds while netting four points.
O'Connor paced the Profs with 15 points and a game-high five assists while Robinson chipped in 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds and a game-high four blocked shots before fouling out in the final minutes. Senior forward Mike Simpson contributed eight points, five rebounds and four assists for Rowan while junior center Dan Brogan came off the bench for eight points.
The loss was the second in a row for the Profs who lost to William Paterson on Wednesday to end a 9-game winning streak. The Raiders took their second straight NJAC decision.
Rutgers-Newark hosts New Jersey City University Wednesday night in The Golden Dome Arena in an NJAC doubleheader. The women's game tips off at 6 with the men to follow at 8.
