Mahwah, NJ: The Roadrunners posted an 85-68 victory over the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers Newark today at the Bradley Center to improve to 13-10 overall, 7-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. With the loss the Scarlet Raiders fall to 13-11 overall, 6-6 in the conference.

Ramapo opened to a 44-33 half time lead after Desmond Sanders (Newark, NJ) netted 11 points hitting a perfect 3-3 from the field and 5-8 from the free throw line. Rookie Ahmad Hassan (Edgewater, NJ) contributed eight first half points while the team went 17-24 (71%). The Scarlet Raiders hit 54% of their shots netting 14 on 26 attempts. Chadd Barnes (Newark, NJ), Phil Barnes (Middlesex, NJ), and Deshawn Singleton (Passaic, NJ) each recorded six points in the first 20 minutes of play.

Rutgers Newark's only lead came in the first three minutes when C. Barnes hit a free throw on an and-one play to go up, 3-2. P. Barnes hit a jumper to take a three point edge and Ramapo's Omar Alston (Carteret, NJ) and Tim Wesley (Jersey City, NJ) responded each with a jumper to regain the lead, 6-5 with 17:49 on the clock. Over the next seven minutes Ramapo spread the gap to as many as five but with 4:16 to go, the Roadrunners went on a mini 7-0 run sparked by Wesley to gain a nine point, 37-28 edge with 2:27 to go in the half. The next few baskets flip-flopped back and forth with Ramapo outscoring Rutgers Newark by a slight, 7-5 to head into the locker room with a 44-33 edge.

In the second half the Roadrunners led by as many as 20 and allowed the Scarlet Raiders to come only within six in the opening two minutes of the half. After the Roadrunners regained a double-digit lead, 48-38, at 17:00 flat with a jumper from Alston, they never looked back. Ralph Jones (West Orange, NJ) hit a basket at 7:53 before Ramapo went on a 7-0 run to gain their 20 point advantage with another basket from Wesley with five minutes to go in the game. C. Barnes hit ten of his 24 points in the final 2:45 of the game bringing his team within 13. Shaakir, Wesley, and Jason Marshall (Hackensack, NJ) combined efforts down the stretch to keep the Roadrunners on top for the 85-68 win.

Wesley finished the day with a double-double including 23 points and 12 boards while Sanders netted 15 points in the team's 85-68 victory. Assad Shaakir (Newark, NJ) and Alston contributed 12 points and Hassan wrapped up the day with ten. Shaakir and Sanders each dished out five assists and Shaakir pulled down ten boards for the double-double. C. Barnes went 7-19 recording 24 points and P. Barnes netted 13 of his own. P. Barnes pulled down a team high seven boards while C. Barnes led the team grabbing three steals. Ramapo finished the day hitting 54%, 31-57, of their shots while Rutgers Newark went 25-57 (44%).

Ramapo returns to action on Wednesday, February 20th when they travel to William Paterson University for a 8:00 PM start while Rutgers Newark takes on William Paterson on Saturday, February 23rd in Newark in their final regular season match-up of the year at 7:30 PM.