Box Score CAMDEN, N.J. – Sophomore guard
Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) and junior guard
Julian Martin (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) scored 16 points apiece to lead the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team over Immaculata University, 65-57, in the season opener for both teams here Saturday.
Rutgers-Camden built a 31-23 halftime lead and never trailed in the second half, with leads ranging from 5-15 points, on the way to its win.
Trailing early by an 11-4 score, the Scarlet Raptors went on a 14-point run to take the lead for good. Taylor, Martin and senior guard
Wyatt Polk (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial) all had four points in that run.
Rutgers-Camden build its lead to 41-26 early in the second half on a pair of foul shots by Taylor before the Mighty Macs cut the margin to 49-44 with 7:39 remaining. A pair of foul shots by sophomore forward/center
Matt O'Keefe (Sicklerville, NJ/Paul VI) gave the Scarlet Raptors some breathing room and they eventually regained a double-digit lead (64-53) in the last minute before settling for the eight-point victory.
In addition to Taylor and Martin, Polk added 11 points for the Scarlet Raptors, while junior guard/forward
John Tatem (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) had eight points and O'Keefe added seven. Tatem and O'Keefe tied for team-high rebounding honors with seven apiece, while Martin had a game-high four steals. He also tied Taylor with a game-high three assists.
Immaculata received a game-high 18 points from sophomore guard/forward
Roy Ferrell Jr. (Hockessin, DE/Charter School of Wilmington). Ferrell also added a game-high nine rebounds to help the Mighty Macs hold a 38-37 advantage off the boards.
Rutgers-Camden shot 42.9 percent (21-for-49) from the floor, while Immaculata was only 30.4 percent (17-for-56). The Mighty Macs shot only 5-for-27 (18.5 percent) from three-point range.
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday when they host Arcadia University at 7 p.m.
Immaculata plays an 8 p.m. game at Widener University Wednesday.
