NEWARK, NJ | Backed by a stellar opening half and their highest total of the season, the Scarlet Raiders scored their way to the NJAC Semifinal round after knocking off #6 Kean, 89-70. The men will play #2 Rowan in Glassboro, NJ on Thursday, February 24.

Rutgers-Newark (17-8) was led by Quincy Rutherford's 16 points while Dante Ralph added a 14-point, 10 rebound double-double. Levi Holton was efficient tonight, shooting 5-for-6 from the floor for a total of 13 points. Jamir Patterson added 12 points and six rebounds in the win. 

Kean (14-10) had another player enter their 1,000 point club tonight as Jailen Jamison scored the 13 points he needed to reach that milestone. Letrell West led the team in scoring with 21 points while Patrick Strzala added 14.

Rutherford led the charge in the first half, leading the Scarlet Raiders to one of their highest-scoring opening stanza this season. Rutgers-Newark as a whole was lights out through the beginning of the game, hitting the bottom of the net with seemingly every shot they put up. Behind 49% shooting from the floor, the Scarlet Raiders jumped out to a 29-10 lead through 11 minutes. Alongside Rutherford's stellar first half, Russell Ayala was perfect from the field, going 3-for-3 with two of those baskets coming from behind the arc.

The Scarlet Raiders kept their foot on the gas and with 3:28 left in the first half, pushed their lead out to 20, 37-17. The Cougars began to gain steam as the half began to come to a close and outscored the Scarlet Raiders 9-6 over the final three minutes. After the explosive first half came to a close the Scarlet Raiders took a 43-26 lead into the locker room. 

In the second half, the Scarlet Raiders didn't falter as they continually extended their lead throughout the game. Holton electrified the crowd with a dunk, five minutes into the second half which pushed their lead out to 25. From there, Rutgers-Newark remained in front and Tyrone Bowens gave the Scarlet Raiders their largest lead of the game (33) off of a pass from Travis Miles.

The Cougars made a run at the end, cutting the lead down to 17 but the clock was against them as they ran out of time, sending the Scarlet Raiders to the NJAC Semifinals.