Box Score

MAHWAH, N.J. (Jan. 17, 2015) – Junior guard/forward John Tatem (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) scored 23 points to lead four Scarlet Raptors in double figures as Rutgers University-Camden built a big halftime lead and weathered a strong Ramapo College comeback to defeat the Roadrunners, 82-74, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men's basketball game here Saturday.
 
The Scarlet Raptors improve to 9-7 overall and 3-6 in the NJAC, while the Roadrunners fall to 10-6 and 4-5.
 
Rutgers-Camden has won its last two games against Ramapo, although the Roadrunners lead the all-time series, 43-14.
 
Behind 17 points from Tatem, the Scarlet Raptors built a 43-29 halftime lead, leading by as many as 18 points (41-23) at one point. They opened up a 16-point lead (45-29) to start the second half, but the Roadrunners stormed back to tie the game, 63-63, with a 34-18 run.
 
After a jumper by sophomore guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) put the Raptors back on top, 68-66, the Roadrunners took their lone lead of the game, 69-67, following a foul shot and a jumper by freshman forward Nick Stanek (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford).
 
Moments later, another jumper by Taylor helped the Raptors take the lead for good, 70-69. Tatem and junior guard Julian Martin (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) tacked on field goals to complete a six-point Raptor run and the closest the Roadrunners came after that was four point (74-70).
 
In addition to Tatem's 23 points, he added eight rebounds to tie senior teammate Teon Russell (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) for the game high in that category.
 
Taylor finished with 17 points, Russell canned 15 and senior guard/forward Alex Smart (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) added 11.
 
Martin notched eight points and tied his career highs in three categories with seven rebounds and game-high totals of five assists and six steals.
 
Senior guard Jason Richardson (Cedarbrook, NJ/Winslow Township) added three steals to hike his career total to 161, moving to within two steals of Dane Nicholson (2003-07), who is second on the program's all-time list.
 
Freshman forward Ve'Shawn Polite (Harlem, NY/Elmwood Park Memorial High) notched a game-high 26 points for Ramapo, including 22 in the second half to lead the Roadrunners' comeback. Junior forward Frank Nock (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) tallied 17 points, Stanek netted 15 and freshman forward Christopher Moseley (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) added 10.
 
The Raptors shot 28-for-58 (48.3 percent) from the floor and were an outstanding 22-for-24 (91.7) from the foul line, led by 5-for-5 foul shooting by Tatem. Ramapo was 29-for-65 (44.6) from the floor and 14-for-22 (63.6) from the line. The Raptors held a 37-35 edge off the boards and both teams committed 22 turnovers.
 
The Scarlet Raptors play another NJAC game Wednesday at The College of New Jersey, with tip-off at 8 p.m.