Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. (Nov. 30, 2016) – After starting the season with a pair of big losses, the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team had its work cut out for it against a red-hot Rowan University squad in New Jersey Athletic Conference action here Wednesday night.
 
The Scarlet Raptors, however, were up to the challenge in playing their best game of the young season before the Profs pulled out a 78-75 NJAC victory.
 
The win was the fifth straight for Rowan, which improves to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.  Rutgers-Camden falls to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in NJAC play.
 
Rowan, which now leads the all-time series, 91-32, entered the game averaging 95.2 points, while the Scarlet Raptors allowed an average of 102.0 points in their first two games. Wednesday, however, was far different for both teams, as the Scarlet Raptors grabbed an early 6-4 lead before the Profs went on a 19-6 run to build a 23-12 first-half lead. By halftime, the Scarlet Raptors had trimmed the margin to 44-39, setting up a hard-fought, tense second half in which the score was tied four times and the lead changed four times.
 
Rutgers-Camden took its first lead since early in the first half when a pair of foul shots by sophomore forward Isaac Destin (Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood) put the Raptors up, 57-55, with 11:58 remaining. The Raptors stretched that margin to 60-56 on a three-pointer by freshman guard Keith Washington Jr. (Clementon, NJ/Monsignor Bonner) before Rowan rallied to tie the game on a pair of foul shots by junior center Teirique Robinson (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) and a layup by freshman guard Jeff Haddock (Burlington, NJ/Willingboro).
 
After a pair of lead changes, the Scarlet Raptors grabbed a 65-62 lead before the teams were knotted again, 68-68, on a layup by the Profs' senior forward Gary Carthan (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) with 6:53 remaining. He was fouled on the play and tacked on a free throw to give the Profs the lead for good, 69-68. Moments later, Haddock nailed a three-pointer, giving Rowan a 72-68 advantage.
 
The Scarlet Raptors cut the gap to 72-70 on a layup by sophomore guard Elijah Robles (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), but that was the closest they came the rest of the way. With 1:17 remaining, the Profs held a 78-72 lead before Rutgers-Camden cut the gap to the final score on a three-pointer by senior captain Julian Martin (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) with 53 seconds remaining. The Raptors had a chance to tie the game in the last few seconds, but a three-point attempt was off the mark and the Profs grabbed the rebound to run out the clock.
 
Haddock led Rowan with 20 points, including 3-for-6 shooting from three-point range and a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line. He was 6-for-9, overall, from the floor.
 
Senior forward Shawn Wilson (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) notched 18 points, while Carthan added 10. Junior forward TJ Booth (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) had nine points and a team-high six rebounds for the Profs.
 
Washington tied Haddock for game-high scoring honors, pouring in 20 points for Rutgers-Camden, including a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line. Robles finished with 18 points, while Destin had a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Martin added game-high totals of five assists and three steals.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Saturday with a 3 p.m. NJAC game at New Jersey City University.