Box Score CAMDEN, N.J. -- Ten days and two road games into the season, the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team finally had a chance to play its home opener.

The Scarlet Raptors made it worth the wait.

Rutgers-Camden placed five players in double figures as it defeated Rowan University, 85-69, in its New Jersey Athletic Conference and home opener here Tuesday night.

The victory was the first of the year for the Scarlet Raptors, who improve to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC. Rowan falls to 2-3 and 0-2.
With the score tied at 50-50 midway through the second half, Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good on one of four three-pointers that were drained on the night by sharp-shooting sophomore guard Steven Schneider (Berlin, NJ/Eastern Regional). Schneider, who went 4-for-6 from three-point range on his way to a career-high 14 points, sparked a five-point run that included a jumper by junior guard/forward Alex Smart (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek). Rowan never came closer than three points the rest of the way as the Raptors opened up leads as large as 18 points (85-67).

Junior guard/forward Teon Russell (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) paced Rutgers-Camden with 23 points, including 16 in the first half as the Raptors took a 41-34 lead at the break. Russell also added eight rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Schneider finished with his 14 points, shooting an overall 5-for-7 from the floor, including the four treys, while Smart and freshman guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) both canned 13 points. Taylor also added a game-high seven assists, while Smart had five assists and seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard/forward John Tatem (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) added 12 points for the Raptors, shooting 6-for-8 from the floor.

Rutgers-Camden shot 33-for-61 (54.1 percent) from the field, including 9-for-15 from three-point range. In addition to Schneider's long-range marksmanship, Russell went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.

Rowan received a game-high 27 points from senior guard Tim McDaniels (Mount Holly, NJ/Lenape), who shot a blistering 10-for-15 from the floor.

Senior guard Rich McNamara (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) scored 18 points and completed his double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds for the Profs, while senior forward Jason Sofman (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) added 12 points and eight boards.
Senior guard Jason Rosenberg (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) dished off six assists.

Rowan shot 26-for-66 (39.4) from the floor, but only 2-for-15 (13.3) from three-point range.

Both teams grabbed 38 rebounds.

Rowan plays again Saturday at 12 p.m. when it faces Rosemont College at Neumann University.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Sunday with a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Lycoming College.