DOYLESTOWN, Penn. (Dec. 30, 2023) – The Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team rallied from an early 13-6 deficit and went on to defeat Delaware Valley University, 76-65, in a non-conference game to close out 2023.
 
With its second straight win, Rutgers-Camden evened its record at 6-6, marking the first time the team has been at .500 or above through 12 games since they were 7-5 during the 2014-15 season. They finished that year with a 14-12 record for the program's most recent winning season.
 
Delaware Valley University falls to 6-5.
 
In the Scarlet Raptors' first game since a Dec. 13 win over Kean University, Rutgers-Camden had a slow start. After the two teams traded early baskets, Delaware Valley opened up a 13-6 lead before the Scarlet Raptors roared back with a 9-2 run, tying the game at 15-15 on a layup by sophomore guard Jordan Trusty-Smith.
 
The Aggies recovered to take a 21-18 lead before the Raptors scored seven straight points to take the lead for good. A layup by graduate student guard Javon Gordon gave Rutgers-Camden the lead at 23-21 during that stretch.
 
By halftime, Rutgers-Camden held a 40-33 lead. The Scarlet Raptors led by double digits almost the entire second half, going up by 43-33 score on a trey by junior guard Eric Benjamin only four seconds into the final half. The closest the Aggies came the rest of the way was 64-56 with 5:15 remaining.
 
Sophomore forward Cameron Downs led the Scarlet Raptors with his second double-double of the season, collecting 19 points and adding 10 rebounds.
 
Gordon, in his first year with the Scarlet Raptors, notched his Rutgers-Camden high of 13 points, while tying Downs for the team lead with three steals.
 
Benjamin and sophomore forward Cherif Kanoute collected 11 points apiece.
 
The Aggies received 16 points from junior forward Jordan Gombs, while senior guard Marc Godly added 15 points and four steals. Freshman guard Rasheem Dearry had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 30-for-56 (53.6 percent) from the floor, including 5-for-14 (35.7) from three-point range, with Benjamin hitting three treys in five attempts. The Raptors also forced 24 Aggie turnovers to make up for a 38-27 deficit off the boards.
 
Delaware Valley shot 24-for-55 (43.6) from the floor.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action on Wednesday when it starts the new year by hosting Penn State-Berks in a 3 p.m. non-conference game. The Scarlet Raptors return to New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 6, with a 3 p.m. home game against NJAC-leading Ramapo College.