GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. | The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team had their stellar season come to a close this afternoon after falling to Gwynedd Mercy, 75-71, in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship game. 

Rutgers University-Newark (18-13) reached the ECAC Championship game for the second straight season and found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreline once again. Chase Barneys capped his senior career with a 20-point outing on 50% shooting from the floor. Dante Ralph was efficient inside and finished with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting and led the team with 9 rebounds. Jamir Patterson once again registered double digits, adding 11 points while Mike Vick tallied 9 points and led the team with five assists.

Gwynedd Mercy (23-7) was led by Rich Dunham's game-high 24 points while Nathaniel Walker added 12 points and dished out a team-high four assists. Dunham was 9-for-10 from the charity stripe which helped the Griffins shoot 78.6% as a team from the line. Donaven Spencer cleaned the boards for the Griffins and pulled down seven rebounds.

The Scarlet Raiders controlled the game from the start and jumped out to a 15-11 lead after Ralph connected on his long-range attempt. Gwynedd Mercy stayed with the Scarlet Raiders and eventually tied it at 18 before taking the lead. Rutgers-Newark would quickly regain the lead and push it double digits after Barneys hit a three-point attempt with 5:43 remaining. 

A scoreless two-minute span saw the Scarlet Raiders' lead dwindle to just one as the Griffins went on the offensive to close the gap. Ralph continued to gain inside leverage which allowed his team to take a two-point, 40-38, lead into the locker room. 

Four minutes into the second half, the Griffins tied the game up at 45 before taking a five-point lead. Once again, the Scarlet Raiders remained calm as they regained a slim lead until the Griffins pulled it back with 7:30 to go. Rutgers-Newark didn't let the Griffins pull too far ahead and used a Ralph jumper to tie the game up for the fourth time. That, however, would be the last time the Scarlet Raiders would tie the game up or have the lead.

Once in the driver's seat, the Griffins refused to relinquish the lead on their home court and held off the Scarlet Raiders just long enough to win the ECAC Championship.