NEWARK, NJ | After dropping four-straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games, the Scarlet Raiders men's basketball team returned to their early season form and down the Cougars, 70-49. 

Rutgers University-Newark (11-8, 7-5) scored 70 points for the first time in 2020 and was led by Quincy Rutherford's 22 points. Chase Barneys, Mike Vick and Dante Ralph all scored 10 points while Jamir Patterson paved the way on the glass with 9 rebounds. Darris Watkins scored a career-high five points in 14 minutes, shooting 2-for-3 from the floor. 

Kean University (5-14, 2-10) was unable to build off of their win over Montclair. Jared Latane led the Cougars with 15 points while Jeff Cooper added 14. Mario Gunn tallied five rebounds and a team-high three assists.

The Scarlet Raiders and Cougars took two minutes to break the game open and when they did, Quincy Rutherford took full advantage. Rutherford scored 16 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 3-for-5 from behind the arc. Chase Barneys added six points on 2-of-5 shooting while Watkins scored five. 

Kean University's offense couldn't find any open space against the third-ranked defense in the nation. Rutgers University-Newark tallied five steals and two blocks and outrebounded the Cougars 15-12. A 19-9 run led by Rutherford's eight points boosted the Scarlet Raiders' lead to 27-16. Also during that stretch, Dante Ralph cashed in from the top of the three-point line which brought the crowd to their feet and further increased their lead. 

Rutgers-Newark kept the momentum on their side and cruised into the half with a 34-17 lead. 

The second half was much of the same for the Scarlet Raiders as they consistently got to their spot for the open shot. Mike Vick and Barneys crossed the double-digit point threshold as the Scarlet Raiders proceeded to shoot 50% from the field which stifled any attempt of a Kean University comeback attempt.

With 2:09 remaining in the game, the Scarlet Raiders held a 22-point lead. The men's suffocating defense held the Cougars to 49 points in a crucial NJAC game to keep them in a four-way tie for fourth place.

The men return to action on Saturday, February 1 when they travel across the river to take on NJAC rivals, New Jersey City University at 5:00 pm.