NJAC Preseason Poll | 2015-16 Schedule | 2015-16 Roster
 
NEWARK, N.J. (November 12, 2015) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team is set for a big 2015-16 season, welcoming back a strong group of returners and adding a talented group of newcomers.
 
The Scarlet Raiders will visit DI and BIG 10 member Rutgers University Friday night in the Scarlet Knights' first game of the season at The RAC in Piscataway. That game will officially be an exhibition for Rutgers-Newark, with the R-N official season-opener coming Tuesday at Hunter College.
 
The Scarlet Raiders will be led by a group of six seniors – guard John Snow, guard Morgan Dixon, forward Jordan McDaniel, guard Vik Singh, center Shiloh Siegenthaler and forward David Azoroh - and one junior in forward Olumide Onajide.
 
Snow returns to the squad after missing 2014-15 due to injury. The Newark native was a first-team All-NJAC and first-team National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Region performer as a junior, averaging 16.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. An excellent all-around player, Snow has played in 57 games with Rutgers-Newark, shooting nearly 47 percent from the field and pouring in 683 points. He has accumulated 88 assists and 49 steals, shooting 70 percent from the line and better than 38 percent from deep.
 
McDaniel was an All-NJAC pick as a junior and looks primed for an even better season as a senior. The veteran averaged 16.3 points and shot an excellent 54.1 percent from the field, as well as nearly 41 percent from long range. He led the team in scoring 18 times and rebounding nine times, also getting the job done defensively with 19 steals and 26 blocked shots. One of the best all-around players in the conference, McDaniel worked incredibly hard throughout the summer and preseason in order to get to the next level.
 
Azoroh made 19 starts and played in all 29 games for R-N, averaging 22 minutes and scoring 10.2 points. The veteran shot 55 percent from the field and grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game. In his career, the Ewing native has seen action in 82 contests, scoring 751 points and grabbing 363 rebounds. Azoroh has seen increases in his numbers with each year of experience and is looking to out-do the 10-and-5 (points-rebounds) line from his junior season.
 
Singh is in his fourth year as a member of the program, and is coming off his strongest season after shooting 44 percent from the field and 44 percent from long range. An excellent shooter and underrated energy guy, Singh connected on 21 three-pointers in 14-15, shooting 82 percent from the free-throw line as well. Singh's role has increased with experience and the veteran guard is hoping that trend continues in his final run with the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Onajide took to the hardwood 14 times as a freshman and 16 times a sophomore and is back as a senior after missing the 14-15 season. A versatile player and tenacious rebounder ready to do whatever it takes to help his team, Onajide hopes to carve out a significant role for R-N as the year progresses.
 
Siegenthaler is another player hoping to carve out a role for Newark as a senior after limited action in his first three years on the team. In addition to providing depth in the front court, he has done an excellent job as a leader in the preseason – showing some of the younger players the value of hard work day-in and day-out.
 
Dixon will bring depth to the Scarlet Raider back court and has seen his fair share of action in three previous seasons, earning time in 26 games. Someone who leads on and off the court, Dixon is a key component to the makeup of the team.
 
"We are fortunate to have a deep group of returners," said Head Coach Joe Loughran. "This group knows what I expect and they have all done a nice job leading so far. Most importantly, they know what it takes to be successful in this league and that experience is something we will lean on heavily all year."
 
A pair of key sophomores are also featured on the roster in center Dave Lunsford and guard Tyler Ofray. Lunsford saw limited action as a rookie, playing in seven games and averaging 5.3 minutes per outing. A player with excellent size, rebounding ability and athleticism, Lunsford put in a lot of time this offseason and is hoping it pays off with an increased role as a sophomore.
 
Ofray played in 13 contests a season ago, averaging nearly 16 minutes and getting the starting nod five times. A guard with solid size and a good handle, Ofray could see a lot of action. He finished the 2014-15 season averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds and those numbers will increase as long as he takes care of the ball.
 
R-N graduated several important pieces in Christian Garcia, Chris Foreman, Doze Ikwuegbu, Allen Kuiper and Elvis Hodzic, but Coach Loughran and his staff have brought in a talented group of seven freshmen to help offset those losses.
 
Forward Mark Thomas has demonstrated versatility and energy, while guard Tariq Baker could prove to be a key shooter. Guard George Elghoul also brings great energy to the hardwood, and guards Kevin Moise and Andrew Tomlin have both been working hard to carve out roles in the preseason. Guard Corey Brown has demonstrated a quality basketball IQ, and forward Nobel Berroa has been showing a lot of potential on both ends in the early going.
 
"It will take some time for the young guys to adjust to the college game, but I have been pleased with what I have seen so far," added Loughran. "Our season – especially within the conference – is a real grind every night so we will definitely need them to step up."
 
Coach Loughran has been preaching defense to his team, focusing on the importance of competing at the highest level possible on that end of the court.
 
"If we play well on the defensive end of the court, we are going to be in a lot of games, and it should help our offense," added Loughran. "At times we are going to push, and at times we will play a little slower, but we need to make sure we take care of the ball, cut down on turnovers and make sure we are taking the shots we want – not the shots the opponent wants us to take."
 
After the visit to Rutgers and the team's official 2015-16 opener at Hunter, the Scarlet Raiders will play in the Gettysburg College Tip-Off Tournament before opening NJAC play against New Jersey City University in The Golden Dome Arena on November 24. R-N will play 11 games – five in conference – before the New Year, and return in 2016 for a game at Arcadia University, before coming home for NJAC foe Rutgers University-Camden on January 6. Senior Night will be February 13 in The Dome against Rowan University with a matchup at Ramapo College closing out the regular-season schedule on Wednesday, February 17. The NJAC Tournament is slated to begin that following weekend.