UNION, NJ - The Rutgers-Newark men's basketball team competed on the road at Kean on Wednesday night, where they fell to the Cougars, 80-56.
The game opened up with the home team scoring the first basket. David Kema scored a few seconds later for Rutgers-Newark and that's just the type of back-and-forth action fans saw tonight in Union. Kean led by as many as six points at 13-7 with 13:43 on the clock. Shy'Heed Jenkins-Floyd cut that attempt of a run off and then added a layup one minute later.
Rutgers-Newark was able to score 18 points in the paint and get eight points from their bench in the first half. Hanging in there and never letting the score get out of hand, Rutgers-Newark held the advantage in rebounds, 20 to 18. Both teams shot 40 percent from the floor in the first half, as the Cougars held the slight edge at the break, 32-38.
The Raiders struggled from the floor in the second half. They were only able to connect on nine field goals, which proved to be costly against a team that shot 55.9 percent in the second half. The Cougars were headed towards a 10-0 run to close out the game, before a layup by David Kema stopped the scoring spree for the home team, as Kema provided the last basket of the game.
Rutgers-Newark's 10 turnovers to Kean's three in the half, resulted in missed opportunities and a halt in momentum. There wasn't enough time on the clock for the Raiders to stage a comeback, as they suffered the road loss tonight.
Rutgers-Newark (5-10, 1-7 NJAC) was led in scoring by recent 1,000-Point Club member, Levi Holton, who scored 18. SJenkins-Floyd tallied 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Kean's Adam Silas recorded 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting for the Cougars, in addition to five rebounds and four assists. Tray Harts added 20 points, as Kean won its fourth straight game as it improved to 8-7 overall and 6-2 in the league to remain in a four-way tie for first place.
The Raiders return home on Saturday, Jan. 18 against Rowan in game two of the doubleheader with the women. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. or approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the women's contest.
For the latest news, updates, and information on Rutgers-Newark sports, visit rutgersnewarkathletics.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Scarlet Raiders news by following Rutgers-Newark Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. -
