CAMDEN, N.J. (Nov. 13, 2024) –Rutgers University-Camden junior guard Eric Benjamin was fouled on a three-point attempt with 5:13 remaining in a tie game and hit all three of his foul shots, sparking the Scarlet Raptors to a 67-62 win over FDU-Florham in a non-conference game here Wednesday night.
 
Benjamin finished with a career-high 23 points as the Scarlet Raptors improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
 
FDU falls to 1-2.
 
Rutgers-Camden built a 34-30 halftime lead, but the Devils fought back to tie the game, 36-36, early in the second half. They took their first lead of the half with 9:02 remaining, 45-43, on a pair of foul shots by junior guard McClellen Creek.
 
Moments later, Benjamin flipped the lead with a three-pointer, one of four treys he hit on the night, as the Scarlet Raptors regained the advantage at 46-45. The teams continued their tight battle until the score was knotted at 51-51 and Benjamin was fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer. He sank all three shots to give Rutgers-Camden the lead for good, and the Scarlet Raptors extended the margin to 59-51 on a pair of foul shots by freshman guard/forward Ryan Senft, a layup by Benjamin and a foul shot by junior forward Cameron Downs.
 
The Devils sliced the margin to 65-62 with 12 seconds remaining on a trey by junior guard James Zingaro, but Rutgers-Camden sealed the win down the stretch on a pair of foul shots by senior guard Andrew Sylvestre.
 
Benjamin's 23 points topped his old Raptor high of 20 points, set against Rowan Juniversity on Jan. 31, 2024. Downs finished with 14 points, while senior forward Jordany Pierre and junior forward Cherif Kanoute both added eight. Senior guard Javon Gordon finished with seven points.
 
Sophomore forward Christopher Smith scored 13 points for FDU-Florham, while Creek added 11 points and a game-high six assists.
 
The Scarlet Raptors shot 21-for-46 (45.7 percent) from the floor and 17-for-24 (70.8) from the foul line, while FDU-Florham went 22-for-50 (44.0) from the floor and 12-for-18 (66.7) from the line. The Devils held a 37-22 advantage off the boards.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host Saint Elizabeth University.