CAMDEN, N.J. (Nov. 8, 2023) – Junior guard Eric Benjamin scored a career-high 18 points and the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team raced to a quick 12-1 lead as it opened its season with a 74-60 victory over Hunter College here Wednesday night.
 
It was the Scarlet Raptors' first opening-day victory since a 65-57 win over Immaculata University on Nov. 15, 2014.
 
Benjamin and junior forward Jordany Pierre both hit three-pointers during the Raptors' quick 12-1 start. Rutgers-Camden opened up leads as big as 19 points three times in the first half (28-9, 33-14 and 36-17) before settling for a 31-13 halftime advantage.
 
Early in the second half, a layup by Benjamin gave the Scarlet Raptors their biggest lead at 23 points (47-24) before Hunter sliced its deficit to 11 points on three occasions late in the game.
 
Benjamin's 18 points topped his previous high of 17, set last season against Kean University on Feb. 8. He also had a pair of teammates scoring in double digits as sophomore forward Cherif Kanoute, a newcomer to the team, notched 15 points and sophomore forward Cameron Downs added 12. Downs was the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
 
Pierre cleaned the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds, helping the Scarlet Raptors to hold a 43-40 edge off the glass. Senior guard Ethan Tarte had a game-high five assists.
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 24-for-65 (36.9 percent) from the floor, including 11-for-32 from three-point range, while Hunter shot 17-for-47 (36.2) and 9-for-23 (39.1) on treys. The Hawks had 25 turnovers, however, in their opening game.
 
Sophomore guard Karem McDonald led Hunter with 15 points.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they host Bryn Athyn College at 1 p.m.