NEWARK, N.J. (December 5, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team saw its two-game winning streak come to an end Monday night at The Golden Dome as Misericordia University topped the Scarlet Raiders, 78-58.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 2-6 overall, while MU improves to 6-1. The Scarlet Raiders return to action Wednesday night in The Golden Dome when they welcome Ramapo College to town for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) showdown.
 
The Scarlet Raiders jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, and a three-pointer from sophomore forward Mark Thomas made it a 16-10 Newark lead 5:15 into the action. A jumper from senior forward Nadir Alston on the next Scarlet Raider possession gave the hosts their largest lead of the half (eight), but the Cougars responded with an 8-0 run to tie things at 18-all midway through the first.

The two teams would go back-and-forth over the final 10 minutes of a period that featured five ties and five lead changes with MU taking a 37-36 lead into the break.
 
Rutgers-Newark shot 48 percent from the field in the first half, going 12-for-25 from the floor and 2-for-6 at the line. The Cougars shot 50 percent in the first half, but six Scarlet Raider steals helped the hosts keep it close.
 
Alston and Thomas combined for 19 first-half tallies, with Thomas, Ofray and freshman Mike Vick each dishing out a pair of assists.
 
The Cougars pushed the lead to eight 5:05 into the second, and after a three-pointer from freshman Landon Gaines pulled Newark within five, an 8-0 run for the guests made it 58-45 with 12:27 left.
 
The lead swelled to 21 following a put-back from big-man James Hawk, and the Scarlet Raiders could get no closer than 16 after freshman guard Chase Barneys went on his own 5-0 rally for the hosts.
 
Alston (12), Ofray (11), Thomas (nine) and Barneys (nine) led the Scarlet Raiders in scoring, with Alston grabbing a team-high nine rebounds and blocking two shots. Junior Kenya Brown had eight boards and five points, and freshman guard Mike Vick tallied five points, three assists and two steals. Barneys added four boards and a theft to his line as well.
 
Rutgers-Newark shot 41.7 percent from the field, 4-for-16 from distance and 14-for-25 at the line, scoring 24 points in the paint and 15 points off turnovers.
 
The Cougars shot 47.3 percent from the field, 40.7 percent (11-for-27) from deep and 15-for-22 at the line. The Cougars held a 37-31 margin on the glass and assisted on 15 of their 26 made baskets. Misericordia had four players in double figures, and the Cougars were led by 21 points from guard Jason Kenny who shot 6-for-10 from the floor and 5-for-7 from three.
 
Wednesday night against Ramapo is 'Holiday Night' in The Golden Dome and all fans are encouraged to wear their best ugly sweater to the games for a chance to win a prize at halftime.