Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. – Senior guard/forward Teon Russell (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the second half and junior guard Julian Martin (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) notched 11 of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes as the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team rallied past Lehman College, 69-63, in a non-conference game here Monday night.
 
The Scarlet Raptors improve to 8-6 overall, snapping a two-game losing streak. Lehman, which entered the game with a four-game winning streak, falls to 9-6.
 
In a fast-paced first half, Lehman broke to a 5-0 lead, fell behind 6-5, and then took a 7-6 lead and maintained a slim margin the rest of the half. At halftime, the Lightning held a 33-29 edge, with junior forward/center Jerrome Jones (Bronx, NY/Mount Vernon) scoring eight points and junior guard Olando Minott (Bronx, NY/Samuel Gompers) adding seven points.
 
Rutgers-Camden received eight first-half points from a Russell and senior guard/forward Alex Smart (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek).
 
The Lightning opened up an eight-point lead (39-31) early in the second half before the Scarlet Raptors fought back to tie the game on three occasions, at 42-42, 44-44 and 55-55. The third time proved to be the charm as Smart quickly gave the Raptors the lead on a layup, 57-55, with 5:48 remaining. It was only the second lead of the game for Rutgers-Camden and the first since 7-6.
 
Martin and Russell followed with layups to increase the Raptors' lead to 61-55, and the closest the Lightning came the rest of the way was 64-61 with 1:11 remaining. Down the stretch the Raptors closed out the game from the line on five foul shots by senior guard K.J. Brown (Sicklerville, NJ/Living Faith Christian Academy) and one by Martin.
 
In addition to game highs of 18 points and nine rebounds from Russell, the Scarlet Raptors received 13 points apiece from Martin and Smart. Junior guard/forward John Tatem (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) added eight and Brown finished with seven for the Scarlet Raptors.
 
Sophomore guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) dished off a game-high four assists, while Martin added a game-high four steals.
 
Jones finished with 15 points for the Lightning, while Minott added 14.
 
Rutgers-Camden, which outscored Lehman 40-30 in the second half, shot 25-for-50 (50.0 percent) from the floor in the game, while the Lightning went 23-for-61 (37.7). The Scarlet Raptors also held a 37-32 edge off the boards.
 
Both teams return to action with home conference games on Wednesday. Lehman faces City University of New York Athletic Conference leader Baruch College at 5 p.m. Rutgers-Camden plays an 8 p.m. game against New Jersey Athletic Conference foe New Jersey City University.