READING, Penn. (Nov. 8, 2025) – The Alvernia University men's basketball team scored the first 14 points of the game here Saturday, but Rutgers University-Camden wasn't about to concede anything in the season-opening game for both teams.
 
The Scarlet Raptors roared back from a 47-32 halftime deficit to defeat the Golden Wolves, 81-76.
 
After Alvernia had grabbed its early 14-0 lead, Rutgers-Camden finally broke that run on a layup 5:10 into the game on a layup by freshman guard/forward Gardy Etienne.
 
With only 11:50 remaining in the game, the Scarlet Raptors trailed, 62-49, before going on a game-deciding 32-14 tun the rest of the way. That run started with a layup by Etienne with 11:28 remaining.
 
Rutgers-Camden finally caught Alvernia at 68-68 on a three-pointer from senior forward Cameron Downs with 5:40 remaining. Downs put the Raptors ahead for the first time in the game, 70-68, with a pair of free throws with 4:22 remaining. A minute later, he was fouled on a layup and completed a three-point play to make it a 73-68 game.
 
After Alvernia cut the gap to 73-70, sophomore guard Keion Elliott scored on a layup with 2:39 left, making it a 75-70 Raptor lead. Once again Alvernia trimmed the lead to three points, but a layup by sophomore guard Ryan Senft made it a 77-72 game with 2:10 remaining.
 
A pair of layups by Alvernia junior forward Elijah Hamilton, sandwiched around a free throw by Senft, saw the Raptors clinging to a 78-76 lead in the final 47 seconds. Rutgers-Camden closed out the game in the final moments when Downs hit a free throw to make it a 79-76 game with 13 seconds remaining and Etienne's two foul shots with four seconds left iced the Raptors' win.
 
Downs finished with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Senft notched his first career double-double with career highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Etienne scored 15 points and added six rebounds, while Elliott collected four assists, four steals and six points.
 
Alvernia received 22 points and nine rebounds from Hamilton. Senior guard Rasheem Dearry collected 18 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guards Robert Cottrell and Janye Stanley added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Camden shot 31-for-67 from the floor (46.3 percent) and 15-for-22 from the foul line (68.2), while Alvernia shot 29-for-66 (43.9) and 14-for-20 (70.0), respectively. The Golden Wolves held a 42-38 edge off the boards but also made four more turnovers (15-11) than the Scarlet Raptors made.
 
Rutgers-Camden plays its home opener Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Penn State-Lehigh Valley.