Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. (Jan. 4, 2017) – Throughout much of their New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night, it appeared the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team might play the role of the giant killer.
 
Facing nationally-ranked and undefeated Ramapo College, the Scarlet Raptors built a 20-point halftime lead, survived a strong second-half surge by the Roadrunners and regained a seven-point lead after falling behind. In the end, however, the nation's 19th-ranked Division III team had enough firepower to outlast the Scarlet Raptors, 94-86.
 
Ramapo, off to the best start in its fine program history, improves to 12-0 overall and 6-0 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden falls to 0-9 overall and 0-6 in the conference.
 
Ramapo leads the all-time series against Rutgers-Camden, 46-15, and has won its last three games against the Scarlet Raptors.
 
In the opening half, it was Rutgers-Camden that looked like the undefeated team as the Scarlet Raptors opened up a 61-41 halftime lead behind 15 points from freshman guard Keith Washington Jr. (Clementon, NJ/Monsignor Bonner) and 13 from junior guard Charlie Riccardi (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton). The Scarlet Raptors shot 74.2 percent from the floor (23-for-31) in the first 20 minutes and added a 6-for-6 performance from the foul line. After Ramapo had taken a 28-21 lead, the Scarlet Raptors scored 40 of the next 53 points.
 
The second half was a different story as the Roadrunners pressed their way back into the game, opening up the second half with a 24-4 run to knot the game at 65-65 on a layup by junior forward Nick Stanek (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) with 13:02 remaining. Moments later, a foul shot by Stanek gave Ramapo a 70-67 lead before Rutgers-Camden responded with a 10-point run of its own. Junior guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) scored six points in that run, while sophomore guard Elijah Robles (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) added the other four.
 
Trailing, 77-70, Ramapo answered with an eight-point run and after the teams battled to ties at 80-80, 83-83 and 86-86, the Roadrunners took the lead for good, 88-86, on a layup by senior forward Sultan Aminu (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) with 2:41 remaining. That sparked an eight-point run by Ramapo to close out the game.
 
Junior forward Thomas Bonacum (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) finished with a game-high 23 points for the Roadrunners, with 16 coming in the opening half. In the second half, Junior forward Christopher Moseley (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) finished with 21 points. Stanek finished with 12 and Aminu added 11 for the Roadrunners, who held a 37-25 advantage off the boards.
 
For the game, Ramapo shot 35-for-66 (53.0) from the floor, while Rutgers-Camden finished at 32-for-57 (56.1).
 
Taylor led the Scarlet Raptors with 20 points – three shy of his career high – while Washington Jr. notched 18 and Robles canned 15. Riccardi finished with 13 points and sophomore center Isaac Destin (Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood) added 11. Senior guard Julian Martin (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) had  a career-high 10 assists.

Both teams return to action Saturday with 3 p.m. NJAC home games. Ramapo faces The College of New Jersey, while Rutgers-Camden hosts Kean University.