CAMDEN, N.J. (Jan. 11, 2023) – The New Jersey City University men's basketball team outscored Rutgers University-Camden, 36-21, in the second-half as it overcame a strong first-half effort by the home team and went on to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 62-53, here Wednesday.
NJCU improves to 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, snapping a two-game losing streak. Rutgers-Camden falls to 2-13 overall and 0-8 in the NJAC. The Scarlet Raptors have lost their last nine games.
NJCU leads the all-time series, 71-6. The Gothic Knights are 14-1 against the Scarlet Raptors in their last 15 meetings.
Rutgers-Camden broke an early 10-10 tie, aided by a three-point field goal from freshman forward
Sean Jules, and went on to build a 10-point lead (23-13) late in the first half before the margin was whittled to 32-26 at the break. Freshman forward
Cameron Downs scored 14 first-half points for the Scarlet Raptors, while electric sophomore guard
Eric Benjamin notched 13 in his first game since transferring to the school from NAIA Fisher College in Boston.
NJCU scored the first six points of the second half as the Gothic Knights tied the Raptors at 32-32. After the teams traded baskets a few times, the Gothic Knights took their first lead since an early 5-4 advantage, going up 38-36 on a jumper by junior forward Avante Gilbert.
Rutgers-Camden got within 46-45 on a foul shot from sophomore forward
Jordany Pierre, and again at 48-47 on a jumper from junior guard
Gavin Henry. The Gothic Knights made it a 49-47, on a free throw by freshman forward Branden Moore. They increased their advantage to as many as 11 points (60-49) near the end.
Senior forward Kayton Darley finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for NJCU. Gilbert finished second on the team in scoring with eight points.
Downs led the Raptors with 21 points, while Benjamin added 15. Senior guard
Jaymes Savage collected nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and four points for Rutgers-Camden.
The Scarlet Raptors return home Saturday for a 3 p.m. NJAC game against William Paterson University.
