Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. (Feb. 6, 2017) – In a wild final moments of men's basketball here Monday night, Rutgers University-Camden tried to make up a nine-point deficit against the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
 
The Scarlet Raptors managed to cut the gap to one point, but they couldn't quite tie the game, and the Mariners' sophomore forward David Washington (Frisco, TX/Liberty del Frisco) added a free throw with 0.2 left on the clock as USMMA held on for a 58-56 non-conference victory.
 
The Mariners improve to 7-14 with their second straight win, while the Scarlet Raptors drop to 5-17. Rutgers-Camden falls to 3-4 against non-conference opponents after winning its last three non-conference games.
 
Leading, 57-48, the Mariners almost turned the game over as they had all sorts of problems handling the Scarlet Raptors' full-court press in the last minute and change.  With 1:09 remaining, a steal by sophomore forward/center Isaac Destin (Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood) eventually led to a Destin jumper at 1:01, which cut the margin to 57-50.
 
Moments later, a steal by junior guard Shafeek Taylor (Philadelphia, PA/Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School) led to his layup, a foul by USMMA and a successful free throw cutting the gap to 57-53. Another steal by Destin led to a three-pointer by junior guard Charlie Riccardi (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton), as the Scarlet Raptors cut the gap to 57-56.
 
With time winding down, an offensive foul and turnover by USMMA gave the Raptors one last chance with the ball, and after a timeout, the Raptors missed a potential game-winning shot by three seconds remaining. Washington grabbed the rebound, was fouled and sank the second of two foul shots with 0.2 remaining. The Raptors attempt at a full-court pass and desperation shot didn't fall as the Mariners hung on for the win.
 
USMMA, which led by as many as 10 points (33-23) in the second half, received a huge night from senior guard Matt Miller (Augusta, GA/Augusta), who scored 27 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Miller shot 5-for-9 from three-point range as part of his big night. He also added two blocked shots.
 
Junior guard/forward Christian Wittendorf (Granger, IN/Penn) notched 12 points, while Washington added nine. Both Wittendorf and Washington had nine rebounds apiece as USMMA held a 38-26 advantage off the boards.
 
While the Mariners shot 18-for-42 (42.9 percent) from the field, they held the Scarlet Raptors to 21-for-59 (35.6) shooting. USMMA made 22 turnovers, however, to the Raptors' 12.
 
Shafeek Taylor led the Scarlet Raptors with 14 points and eight rebounds, while adding four steals and three assists. Destin had 13 points and Riccardi added 12. Destin's 13 points hiked him over the 500-point milestone for his young career, lifting his total to 509.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action Wednesday night with a 7:30 p.m. game at Ramapo College.