Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. (Jan. 28, 2017) – Sophomore forward Mark Thomas (Newark, NJ/Marist) scored a game-high 21 points, including five straight during a seven-point run first-half run for Rutgers University-Newark, to lead the Scarlet Raiders over Rutgers University-Camden, 67-56, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday night.
 
Newark improves to 6-14 overall and 5-8 in the NJAC, while Camden falls to 4-15 and 1-12. The Scarlet Raiders have won four straight and seven of their last eight games against Rutgers-Camden and lead the all-tie series, 48-35.
 
With Newark leading, 11-10, early in the game, Thomas rattled off the first five points of a seven-point run, putting the Scarlet Raiders on top, 18-10. By halftime, they held a 31-25 lead behind 10 points from Thomas and eight from senior forward Nadir Alston (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech). Rutgers-Camden never came closer than that six-point margin the rest of the way, with a 40-34 deficit the closest the Scarlet Raptors got in the second half. Newark led by as many as 16 points on two occasions in the final 20 minutes, the last being at 64-48.
 
Thomas shot 9-for-15 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, and converted his only foul shot. Alston, meanwhile, has a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, helping the host team hold a 35-27 advantage off the boards.
 
Freshman guard Mike Vick (Maplewood, NJ/East Brunswick) added 10 points and tied for game-high honors with five assists for Newark.
 
Rutgers-Camden received 14 points from sophomore forward/center Isaac Destin (Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood). Sophomore guard Elijah Robles (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) netted 12 points and junior guard Shafeek Taylor (Philadelphia, PA/Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School) added 10. Shafeek Taylor also added three assists and a game-high three steals.
 
Both Robles and freshman guard Keith Washington Jr. (Clementon, NJ/Monsignor Bonner) notched five assists apiece to tie Newark's Vick for game-high honors.
 
Junior guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) led the Raptors with six rebounds, while adding six points.
 
Newark shot 51 percent (25-for-49) from the floor, while Rutgers-Camden shot 22-for-54 (40.7).
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action Wednesday night when it hosts Stockton University at 8 p.m.