WESTFIELD, Mass. | Quincy Rutherford scored a team-high 15 points while Mike Vick earned the Rick Martin/Hampton Inn Tournament MVP in the 57-51 win over Utica College. 

Rutgers University-Newark (2-0) received points from Chase Barneys, who tallied 11, and BJ Honis who added 10 in the win. Dante Ralph grabbed eight rebounds in a well-rounded rebounding game for the Scarlet Raiders. As a team, Rutgers University-Newark outrebounded Utica College 46-33.

Utica College (1-1) was led by Kimedrick Murphy's 14 points while Darius Hopkins added 10. Murphy protected the rim with four blocks and five rebounds.

The Scarlet Raiders trailed for much of the first half but kept the game within arm's reach. Jamir Patterson gave Rutgers-Newark the lead with a fastbreak layup to put his team up 23-22. 

Rutgers-Newark used that as momentum and over the course of the final four minutes of the first half, outscored Utica, 11-2. 

In the second half, the Scarlet Raiders led by as much as 14 and it looked as though they were primed to run away with the game. Rutherford, Ralph, and Barneys helped push their lead to 14, however, the Pioneers wouldn't allow themselves to be counted out so quick.

With 1:52 remaining in the game Thomas Morreale cashed in from behind the arc to cut the lead down to three. Barneys, wanting to keep his record unblemished, answered immediately with a three of his own.

Utica would score once more in the final 21 seconds but was unable to close the gap as the Scarlet Raiders won their second straight game to open their 2019-20 campaign.

Up next for the Scarlet Raiders is a home game on Tuesday, November 19 when they host FDU-Florham at 7:00 pm.