MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Nov. 12, 2022) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team built a 35-26 halftime lead and went on to defeat St. Elizabeth University, 69-56, for its first win of the season.
 
The victory evens the Scarlet Raptors' record at 1-1, while the Eagles fall to 0-2.
 
In the opening half, the Scarlet Raptors jumped to an 8-0 lead before the Eagles rallied an took a 17-16 lead with 11:44 remaining before the break. After ties at 17-17 and 19-19, the Scarlet Raptors jumped on top, 22-21, on a three-pointer from junior guard Gavin Henry.
 
St. Elizabeth came back to tie the game at 24-24 before a big dunk by freshman forward Cameron Downs put the Scarlet Raptors ahead, 26-24, and sparked an 11-2 Raptor run to end the half. Sophomore guard Jordan Trusty-Smith had four points in that run.
 
Leading, 35-26, at the half, Henry led the team with nine point and five rebounds, while Downs had eight points and four boards. Sophomore forward Rich Santos had seven first-half points, while Trusty-Smith added six.
 
Rutgers-Camden built its lead to as many as 17 points (48-31) in the second half before earning a 13-point win.
 
Henry paced the Scarlet Raptors with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Trust-Smith canned 14 points and added a high of five assists. Santos scored 11 points and sophomore foward Jordany Pierre added 10.
 
For the Eagles, senior forward Pierre Harden scored 16 and freshman forward Elijah Able notched 13 points and added three assists.
 
The Scarlet Raptors play their home opener Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Delaware Valley University.