JERSEY CITY, N.J. (March 5, 2021) – In the highly unusual New Jersey Athletic Conference pandemic-altered basketball season, the Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors accomplished a few feats that they can hang their hat on as they prepare for a hopefully-normal 2021-22 season.
 
With a lot of young talent to build around for the future, the Scarlet Raptors were one of only two men's teams to play all eight games in the COVID quarantine-altered regular season. And in the altered post-season schedule, Rutgers-Camden also played the first NJAC post-season tournament in the history of its men's basketball program.
 
That season came to an end here Friday night in the NJAC Men's Basketball Quarterfinals as the eighth-seeded Scarlet Raptors were defeated by the second-seeded New Jersey City University Gothic Knights, 85-48. The playoff seedings and matchups were slightly altered by various COVID testing timetables by the eight teams who participated in the 2020-21 NJAC season.
 
Rutgers-Camden closes its season at 0-9, while NJCU (6-1) advances to the NJAC semifinals. It will host third-seeded Montclair State University on March 12. The Red Hawks posted an 84-78 victory over #6 William Paterson University in another quarterfinal game Friday.
 
The Gothic Knights have won their last 11 games against the Scarlet Raptors and 57 of the last 59. They own a 67-5 lead in the all-time series.
 
Rutgers-Camden took its lone lead of the night on a game-opening three-pointer by junior forward Jake Petrik. NJCU scored the next 11 points, taking the lead for good, 4-3, on a layup by senior forward Jahmere Calhoun. The Scarlet Raptors cut their deficit to 14-11 and were trailing by only four (17-13) when NJCU scored the next nine points. By halftime, the Gothic Knights led, 38-24.
 
Thirteen players cracked the scoring column for NJCU, led by 13 points from senior guard Denzel Banks and 10 from freshman guard Jayvin Irby. Sophomore center Michael Clement and freshman forward Ryan Savoy helped NJCU hold a 48-31 advantage off the boards, grabbing eight apiece.
 
Clement also added a game-high five blocked shots.
 
Rutgers-Camden received 10 points from freshman guard/forward Sam Dolphin, while Petrik added eight. Henry and sophomore guard/forward Jaymes Savage scored seven points apiece, with Savage grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman guard Jaelin Keels collected a game-high four assists.
 
NJCU shot 33-for-65 (50.8 percent) from the floor, while Rutgers-Camden shot 18-for-55 (32.7). The Scarlet Raptors also made nine more turnovers (19-10).