NEWARK, N.J. (January 4, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team was defeated by Stockton University Wednesday night in The Golden Dome, falling by a final score of 71-56 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest.
 
The Scarlet Raiders are now 4-9 overall and 3-3 in the league, while the Ospreys move to 2-4 in the conference and 6-4 overall. R-N will look to get back above .500 in the NJAC Saturday afternoon at William Paterson University. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.
 
Rutgers-Newark scored 6-of-8 to start the game, but a 7-0 run for the guests helped them to an 11-8 margin with 14:06 left in the first half. Stockton would extend to a six-point lead, but a three-pointer from freshman forward Landon Gaines pulled R-N within one point midway through the period. Triples from Gaines and freshman guard Mike Vick later in the half made the score 27-22 Scarlet Raiders with 5:35 left, but the Ospreys closed the period on a 12-3 rally to take a 34-30 lead into intermission.
 
A Vick three 48 ticks into the second made it a one-point game, but moments later Stockton went on a 10-0 run to take an 11-point margin with 13:44 on the clock and the Scarlet Raiders were unable to get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
 
Rutgers-Newark shot 40.4 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and 12-for-18 at the line, grabbing 31 rebounds, dishing out 11 assists and totaling six blocked shots. The Ospreys shot 49.1 percent from the floor, 42.1 percent from distance and 9-for-17 at the line, corralling 32 caroms and handing out 17 assists on 27 made baskets. The guests also recorded six blocks, and had an impressive 15 steals.
 
Gaines and sophomore forward Mark Thomas led R-N with 15 points apiece as Thomas added six rebounds and three assists to his line. Freshman guard Chase Barneys had 12 points and a team-high five assists, and Vick had nine points, four rebounds and three blocks.
 
Four Stockton players scored in double figures, with Marcus Harmon and Darius Jerkins each tallying 12 points. Reserve Zavon Johnson led the Osprey bench with 11 points, and three players had three assists.
 
Fans unable to make it to Paterson for Saturday NJAC clash should visit www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com for links to follow the action.