RADNOR, Penn. (Nov. 9, 2022) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team built a 12-point lead on two occasions in the second half before Cabrini University stormed back to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 72-63, in the season opener for both teams here Wednesday.
 
Behind 10 first-half points and 10 rebounds from freshman forward Cameron Downs, Rutgers-Camden took a 28-20 halftime lead. The Scarlet Raptors increased their margin to 37-25 with 15:38 remaining in the game on a jumper by sophomore guard Jordan Trusty-Smith. They led by 12 again moments later when senior guard Jaymes Savage hit a layup to make it 39-27.
 
Cabrini scored the next six points to whittle its deficit in half and eventually caught the Scarlet Raptors at 42-42 on a layup by sophomore guard Donoven Mack with 10:12 remaining. Rutgers-Camden recovered to regain a pair of four-point leads (46-42 and 48-44) before the Cavaliers went on an 11-point run to take the lead for good. The run included three treys from sophomore guard Ahmadu Sarnor.
 
Rutgers-Camden never came closer than five points (55-50 and 57-52) the rest of the way.
 
Sarnor paced Cabrini with 23 points, while sophomore guard Aquil Stewart netted 15 and Mack added 10 points and a team-high six boards. Stewart also dished off a game-high five assists.
 
Senior guard Ryan Byars added nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
 
Trusty Smith tallied 19 points and added eight rebounds to spark the Scarlet Raptors, while Downs had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Savage notched 11 points and five rebounds and sophomore guard Rich Santos collected eight rebounds and five points.
 
Cabrini shot 23-for-55 (41.8) from the field, while Rutgers-Camden shot 25-for-61 (41.0). The Scarlet Raptors, however, were 0-for-17 from three-point range compared to the Cavaliers' 7-for-22.
 
Rutgers-Camden held a 48-29 advantage off the boards, yet also made eight more turnovers (23-15).
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday with a 3 p.m. game at St. Elizabeth University.