Box Score NEWARK, NJ – The Rutgers-Newark men's basketball team defeated visiting Rowan University, 81-65 on Saturday night in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game.
Guards Doze Ikwuegbu (jr. Union, NJ/Union) and John Snow (jr. Newark, NJ/Montclair Kimberley) led the way with 19 points apiece. Forward Chris Garcia (jr. Freehold, NJ/Freehold) contributed with 16 points. Snow grabbed 12 rebounds and Garcia had eight. Guard Chris Foreman (jr. Union, NJ/Union) chipped in with 11 points and forward David Azoroh (so. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) added eight.
Rutgers-Newark has an 18-6 record with a 14-3 NJAC mark. The Scarlet Raiders are tied for first place in the conference with Richard Stockton College. Rowan is 12-12 overall and 7-10 in the NJAC.
For the Profs, guard Rich McNamara (sr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) scored 16 points and registered eight boards. Guard Kris O'Connor (so. Mount Laurel, NJ/Paul VI) followed with 15 points and seven rebounds. Guard Phil Jackson (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) collected eight points and six boards while guard Jason Rosenberg (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) had seven points.
The score was tied at 37 after the first half. The Scarlet Raiders started the second stanza with an 8-0 run to lead 45-37 at 17:30. Snow scored four points while Garcia and Ikwuegbu each had a basket. Jackson hit a three-pointer (15:43) and the Profs trailed by five (47-42). Snow (15:26) and Ikwuegbu (14:40) nailed back-to-back threes and Snow had a jumper (14:12) to lead 55-42. Rutgers-Newark was ahead by 15 points (63-48) after a three-pointer by Ikwuegbu with 12:26 remaining.
Rowan had an 8-0 spurt to pull within seven points (63-56) at 9:47. O'Connor and McNamara each contributed with four points. Azoroh had two points at the line (6:57) and the Scarlet Raiders were up by 10 (68-58). Guard Matt Whitworth (sr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) sank a three (3:25), which cut the deficit to eight points (71-63). Rutgers-Newark then ended the contest with a 10-2 run. Foreman scored four points while Snow, Azoroh and Garcia added two apiece. Snow totaled 13 points in the second half and Ikwuegbu produced 11.
Rutgers-Newark had a seven-point lead (21-14) at 11:17 in the opening period after a jump shot by Snow. Rowan answered with nine straight points to go ahead 23-21 with 8:26 left. McNamara scored the first two baskets and O'Connor had one. Center Dan Brogan (so. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) made a layup and foul shot.
Whitworth's three at 6:32 put the Profs ahead by six points (28-22). Ikwuegbu (6:05) and Foreman (5:18) nailed three-pointers and tied the score at 28. Garcia made two free throws (3:15) for a five-point advantage (35-30). With 1:21 on the clock, O'Connor had a three and Rowan trailed 37-36. Jackson's foul shot at the 36-second mark tied the score at the break.
Rowan hosts Richard Stockton College on Wednesday, February 19 at 8 p.m., which is the last game of the regular season.
