Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – Rutgers University-Newark could not stave off an upset bid by Rutgers University-Camden as the Scarlet Raptors erased a 9-point deficit in the last nine minutes for a 74-69 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in The Golden Dome Arena.
Junior forward
Jordan McDaniel was held scoreless in the second half after carrying the Scarlet Raiders (15-8, NJAC 9-7) in the opening half as Rutgers-Camden (12-11, NJAC 6-10) split the season series between the teams and denied Rutgers-Newark the chance to clinch one of six league championship tournament berths. The Raiders are now tied with Rowan (15-8, NJAC 9-7) and The College of New Jersey (13-10, NJAC 9-7) for third place in the 10-team NJAC with two games remaining on the docket. Rutgers-Newark visits Rowan on Saturday at 3 p.m. for a pivotal league test with the winner guaranteed a conference playoff slot.
Junior forward
David Azoroh came off bench for 15 points, eight rebounds and a game-high eight rebounds for the Raiders while senior guard
Chris Foreman sank three of six shots from beyond the arc to finish with a dozen points and three assists.
Senior guard Wyatt Polk netted 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half for the Raptors while sophomore guard Marcus Taylor added 15 points. Senior forward Alex Smart tallied 10 points, three assists and three steals while seniors Teon Russell and KJ Brown chipped in nine points apiece.
The Raiders lost despite shooting a torrid 56.8% (25-44) from the floor and 64.3% (9-14) from 3-point range. Rutgers-Newark was undone by 22 turnovers that lead to 31 Raptor points and a 10 for 20 night at the free throw line.
Taylor and Brown each went three for three from long range to help Rutgers-Camden make 10 of 14 shots from beyond the arc.
Senior guard
Doze Ikwuegbu drained a 3-point jumper with 9:02 left to give the Raiders a 62-53 edge, but the Raptors answered with a 13-0 run to flip the advantage. Brown hit back-to-back treys to give Rutgers-Camden its first lead of the game at 63-62 with 5:47 left.
Another Ikwuegbu long range jumper trimmed the Raider deficit to 66-65 with 3:39 left before the Raptors countered with a decisive 6-0 run. Junior guard Julian Martin hit a layup ahead of jumper by Smart with 2:10 left. Smart missed a chance for a 3-point play, but Martin snared the rebound and was fouled with 2:07 on the clock. He sank both tries to push the visitors' lead to seven. The Raiders sliced the deficit to 72-69 with 55 seconds left on a layup by senior swingman
Christian Garcia, but they would not get another point.
McDaniel hit seven of eight shots from the floor, including both of his tries from long range, for 17 points as the Raiders threatened to break open the game in the first half, but Rutgers-Camden clawed its way back from a double-digit deficit to trail 40-36 at the intermission.
An Azoroh put back basket gave Rutgers-Newark a 40-25 lead with 1:53 left in the first half, but five different Raptors scored as the visitors reeled off an 11-0 run before the break. Taylor sank a 3-point jumper from the right elbow with 12 ticks remaining before Polk stole the ensuing inbounds pass. Senior guard Jason Richardson was fouled with 2.9 seconds on the clock, stepped to the line and sank a pair of free throws to make it a 4-point game.
The women's game tips off at 1 p.m. in Glassboro to start the key NJAC doubleheader against Rowan on Saturday with the men to follow.
