NEWARK, N.J. (January 12, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking overtime New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup with Rowan University tonight in The Golden Dome, 76-71. The Scarlet Raiders move to 9-7 (2-7 NJAC) while the Profs improve to 12-4 (6-3 NJAC).

Rutgers-Newark was led by senior Mark Isiofia-Thomas who poured in 19 points and recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds (four offensive). Sophomore Quincy Rutherford had a big night off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds on an efficient 7-for-12 shooting from the field.

Senior Tyler Ofray rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points in addition to seven boards and two steals. Sophomore Mike Vick led the squad with five assists while contributing six points, five caroms, and a block.  

The Raiders return to action on Wednesday when they head to Ramapo for a 7:30 p.m. league showdown.

A wild second half featured an incredible 12 lead changes and another six deadlocks. Rowan led 60-55 with 4:23 remaining before R-N stormed back to take a slim 62-60 edge following a crucial 7-0 run.
Rutherford struck first with a big and-one play, hitting a lay-up through contact before knocking down the freebie to cut the deficit to two.

Less than a minute later, Isiofia-Thomas knotted the contest at 60-60 on a jumper in the paint while Rutherford put the hosts in front on a fast break lay-in off an assist from Ofray following a turnover that was created by Isiofia-Thomas with 2:53 to play.

The Profs immediately responded with a clutch trifecta from Nick DePersia but at the 1:34 mark, junior Chase Barneys sliced into the lane and hit a tough bucket to put the Raiders back in front.

Both squads earned defensive stops on the next two possessions before a foul by Vick sent Connor Dickerson to the line. Dickerson missed the first but hit the second to tie the contest with just under 29 seconds remaining.

Rutgers-Newark had the ball with the shot clock off and a chance to win it in regulation but stifling defense did not allow the hosts to get a shot up as time ran out and the contest went to overtime.

In the extra period, the two sides were still deadlocked at 68-68 before another Nick DePersia 3-pointer put Rowan ahead for good with 2:44 on the clock.

The Scarlet Raiders sliced the deficit to one on a pair of Isiofia-Thomas freebies but the Profs responded immediately with a lay-in to restore the three-point edge.

Vick hit one-of-two at the charity stripe to make 73-71 with 33 ticks to go however Dickerson matched him a few seconds later.

R-N was forced into an off-balance corner trey from Barneys before Rutherford was denied in the paint, leading to two free throws on the other end to ice the game for the visitors.

In the first half, the Raiders built an early 22-10 lead at the 8:32 mark behind seven points from Ofray, but the Profs would storm back and cut their deficit down to just five at 33-28 when the teams headed into the locker rooms.