GLASSBORO, N.J. (Feb. 1, 2023) – The nationally-ranked Rowan University men's basketball team broke the 100-point barrier for the eighth time this season as it defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 101-86, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.
 
Rowan, which broke into the D3hoops.com national ranking on Tuesday at #25, improved to 18-3 overall and 14-0 in the NJAC. The Profs have won 10 straight games and 18 of their last 19.
 
Rutgers-Camden fell to 3-18 overall and 1-13 in the NJAC.
 
Rowan has won its last four games against Rutgers-Camden and leads the all-time series, 101-33.
 
The Scarlet Raptors stuck with the Profs throughout most of the first half in a game tied three times (7-7, 16-16 and 26-26), and even held a 14-13 lead on a layup by sophomore forward Jordany Pierre. Rowan broke the 16-16 tie on a layup and free throw by sophomore guard Josh Wright with 13:06 remaining in the first half and built its lead to six points (26-20) before the Scarlet Raptors rallied. Rutgers-Camden tied the game at 26-26 on back-to-back three-pointers by freshman guard Qua'meer Amin and junior guard Ethan Tarte, but the Profs took the lead for good, 28-26, on a layup by senior guard Hafeez Melvin.
 
Leading, 38-34, the Profs rattled off eight straight points on the way to their first double-digit lead of the game. They led, 55-43, at halftime, but the Scarlet Raptors scored the first two field goals of the second half on layups by freshman forward Cameron Downs and sophomore guard Eric Benjamin to make it a 55-47 game. The Raptors also trailed by eight points at 57-49 and 65-57, but the high-powered Profs slowly pulled away on the way to placing six players in double figures.
 
Junior forwards Andrew Seager and Ja'Zere Noel both scored 19 points to lead the Rowan attack. Melvin netted 15 points, senior guard D'Andre Vilmar scored 14, Wright canned 12 and senior guard Connor Dickerson added 10. Noel also had 11 rebounds for a double-double.
 
Downs finished with 22 points and six assists for the Scarlet Raptors, while sophomore guard Jordan Trusty-Smith added 16 points. Benjamin scored 13 and Tarte added 10, while Pierre notched nine. Senior guard Jaymes Savage led the Scarlet Raptors with 10 rebounds.
 
Rowan shot 34-for-65 (52.3 percent) from the floor and Rutgers-Camden shot 33-for-75 (44.0). The Profs held a 42-39 edge off the boards.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they host Ramapo College in a 3 p.m. NJAC game. Prior to the game, Rutgers-Camden will honor Savage, its lone senior, in a Senior Day celebration.