CAMDEN, N.J. (Feb. 6, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team gave perennial New Jersey Athletic Conference power Ramapo College all it could handle here Wednesday night in the Scarlet Raptors' final home game of the season.
 
In the end, however, the two-time defending conference champions had just enough firepower to outlast the Scarlet Raptors, 79-74.
 
Ramapo improved to 16-7 overall and 10-6 in the NJAC with its eighth straight win over Rutgers-Camden in the all-time series. The Roadrunners lead that series, 51-15.
 
Although Rutgers-Camden fell to 2-21 overall and 2-14 in the NJAC with its ninth straight defeat, the Scarlet Raptors were in the game almost every step of the way. After falling into a quick 12-3 hole only 4:35 into the game, the Scarlet Raptors went on a 14-5 tear to tie the contest at 17-17. That run was highlighted by three-point field goals from sophomore guard Terrance Harris, freshman guard Adam Perry, and sophomore Tyrell Russell and Ian McCarthy, with a pair of free throws by junior guard Robbie Brosh sprinkled in the mix.
 
Rutgers-Camden took its first lead of the game, 22-21, on another trey by Russell and opened up a 40-33 lead late in the half before Ramapo scored the final seven points to tie the game, 40-40, at the break.
 
Coming out of the break, the Roadrunners went on a 9-2 run, sparked by seven points from senior guard Kashaun Barnes, to open up a 49-42 lead. They still led by seven points, 61-54, when the Scarlet Raptors mounted another run. An 11-4 spurt, capped by a layup from Perry, tied the game at 65-65 before Ramapo ran off the next six points to take the lead for good. The Raptors managed to slice the gap to four points on two occasions (71-67 and 78-74) in the final few minutes before a foul shot by Barnes accounted for the final score.
 
Barnes finished with a game-high 23 points for the Roadrunners, while junior guard Rob McWilliams netted 13 and added 11 rebounds for a double-double. Senior forward Rob Lewis and junior forward Jordan Zagadou both scored 12 points.
 
Freshman guard Jason Battle collected game-high totals of seven assists and four steals for Ramapo.
 
Rutgers-Camden received 16 points from junior guard Trai Greer. McCarthy netted 15 points and Russell, pictured above, added 14. The Scarlet Raptors also received 11 points from sophomore guard Kyle Goodson Jr. and 10 from Perry.
 
Greer and Goodson dished off five and four assists, respectively.
 
Ramapo held a 42-25 advantage off the boards and shot 32-for-65 (49.2 percent) from the floor. Rutgers-Camden shot 27-for-53 (50.9) from the floor, including a torrid 13-for-25 (52.0) from three-point range. That long-range attack was paced by McCarthy, who shot 5-for-10 from beyond the arc.
 
Rutgers-Camden closes its season with a pair of NJAC road games. The Scarlet Raptors play a 3 p.m. game Saturday at New Jersey City University and finish the campaign Wednesday with an 8 p.m. contest at Montclair State University.