Newark, NJ — Rutgers-Newark fell behind early and couldn't fully recover in a 68–56 loss to William Paterson on Tuesday night. A slow start proved costly, as Newark shot just 29.63% in the first half and gave up an 11–0 run that allowed the Pioneers to build a 35–24 halftime lead.
The Pioneers' early surge created separation that Newark spent the rest of the night trying to erase. In the second half, the Scarlet Raiders began to find better rhythm offensively and tightened up defensively, sparking a late push that brought them back within striking distance. Newark was able to cut the lead down to six after a pair of free throws from Eli'sha Brown, giving the Golden Dome renewed energy.
But William Paterson immediately answered. The Pioneers responded with two momentum-swinging dunks from Fred Orock Jr., halting Newark's surge and effectively sealing the victory.
The Scarlet Raiders struggled to find consistency offensively throughout the night. A poor shooting performance saw Newark finish just 35.1% from the field and 11.1% from three, while William Paterson knocked down 52.7% of their shots and hit 50% from deep to control the game throughout.
Ayden Brown led the Scarlet Raiders with 13 points, while Will Ndio added 10 points and eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. The Scarlet Raiders move to 2–7 on the season and 0–3 in NJAC play. They will look to regroup on Saturday as they hit the road for another NJAC matchup, this time with Stockton.
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