EWING, N.J. (Jan. 18, 2023) – Sophomore guard Pat Higgins scored five points as The College of New Jersey men's basketball team jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead and the Lions went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 81-62, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.
 
TCNJ improves to 6-11 overall and evens its NJAC record at 5-5 with its fourth straight win. Rutgers-Camden falls to 3-14 and 1-9.
 
TCNJ has won its last 17 games against Rutgers-Camden and holds a 75-18 lead in the all-time series. The Scarlet Raptors' last win in the series came on November 25, 2014, by a 74-71 score in Camden.
 
After falling into a quick 7-0 lead, the Scarlet Raptors never came closer than 7-3, after freshman forward Cameron Downs nailed a three-pointer. The Lions led, 45-30, at halftime.
 
Higgins finished with 19 points for the Lions, while senior guard Anthony DiCaro scored 13 and senior forward Jim Clemente added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds. DiCaro collected four assists for TCNJ.
 
Downs, who on Monday was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, led the Scarlet Raptors with 17 points and five rebounds. Sophomore forward Jordany Pierre notched 10 points and four rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 20-for-57 (35.1 percent) from the floor, while TCNJ was 29-for-55 (52.7). The Lions also held a 45-22 advantage off the boards.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they host Montclair State University in a 3 p.m. NJAC game.