Newark, NJ: The Ramapo College used a big second half comeback to defeat NJAC rival Rutgers-Newark University on the road, 54-50. The Roadrunners improve to 3-10 overall and 2-4 in the NJAC while the Scarlet Raiders move to 3-9 overall and 0-5 in the league.
The Roadrunners saw themselves down 24-15 at halftime before they outscored the Scarlet Raiders 39-26 in the second half. Rutgers-Newark extended their lead to 30-17 with just over 17 minutes left in the game. Over the next 8:45 of the game the Roadrunners would go on a 20-6 run to give them a one-point lead with 8:29 remaining. Ramapo would tie the game at 36 with a five-point spurt as Enoch Hutchison and
Jalen Thomas scored a jumper and a three-pointer respectively. Thomas later sank a pair of free throws to cap off the run and give Ramapo the two-point lead, 38-36. The game was tied two more times over the next 2:10 of the game the final time when Hutchison scored a layup for the Roadrunners to tie the score at 40 with 6:05 remaining. Thomas then added two-points on a layup off a Scarlet Raider turnover to give Ramapo the lead for good with 5:30 on the clock. Over the final 4:30 of the game, Ramapo maintained their lead scoring 12 more points to Rutgers-Newark's 10. During the final minutes of the game, Thomas contributed with four points and
Orion Mickens posted three. The team finished 6-10 from the free throw line and 3-6 from the floor to wrap up the road victory.
Keithan Shuler led the way with 15 points for the Roadrunners while adding five rebounds. Thomas posted 13 points and five rebounds while Hutchinson contributed with 12 points, four steals and four rebounds. Mickens tallied a career high 15 rebounds while adding three points. The team shot 38% (18-47) from the field, 37% (3-8) from the three-point line and 65% (15-23) from the free throw line.
For the Scarlet Raiders, Raheem Murray posted a team high 19 points with six rebounds and three steals. Ayden Brown added nine points while Steve Rodriguez contributed with four points, a team high four steals and six rebounds. The team shot 28% (18-64) from the field, 11% (3-26) from the three-point line and 68% (11-16) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday at the Bradley Center when they host Rowan University in NJAC action at 1pm.
