UNION, N.J. (February 3, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team scored a season-high 49 points in the first half and led by 20 just 10:29 into the action en route to an 85-55 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) road win at Kean University Wednesday night.
Rutgers-Newark improves to 10-4 in the NJAC and 15-6 overall and will host William Paterson University Saturday night in The Golden Dome Arena. Kean falls to 3-16 overall and 3-11 in the conference with the defeat.
After doubling up Kean (8-4) 3:02 into the action, Rutgers-Newark effectively sealed its 10th win of the season with a 20-4 run to open a 28-8 lead with a shade under nine minutes to play in the first half. Senior guard John Snow started the run with a layup and senior forward Jordan McDaniel ended it with a three-pointer as sophomore guard Tyler Ofray and Snow also hit three's.
Senior forward David Azoroh scored six-straight points at one point to give the Scarlet Raiders a 39-13 lead, and five-straight from senior guard Vik Singh netted Rutgers its largest lead of the half (29) with 25 seconds left.
R-N hit a season-best nine first-half three-pointers (9-for-16) and shot 61.3 percent from the floor (19-for-31), also dishing out 14 assists on their 19 made baskets.
An Azoroh jumper and McDaniel dunk helped the lead eclipse 30 (63-31) with 13:20 on the clock, and a three-pointer from freshman guard George Elghoul pushed the lead to a game-high 38 with 4:32 to play.
A total of 12 Scarlet Raiders scored points, and Singh led the reserves with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists. Freshman forward Tariq Baker had a season-best eight points and two assists.
McDaniel scored a game-high 21 points, adding seven boards, two assists and two steals, and Snow had 15 points and two rebounds. Senior guard Rocky Stephens had eight points, six rebounds and two assists, while Ofray had three points, seven boards and a trio of helpers. Azoroh notched eight points and a pair of assists.
Rutgers shot 50.8 percent (33-for-65) from the field and 44.8 percent (13-for-29) from three, going 6-for-9 at the line and finishing plus-15 (39-24) on the glass (12-3 offensive). The Scarlet Raiders led wire-to-wire and had 22 assists (12 turnovers. Kean committed 19 turnovers and had 13 assist, shooting 44.4 percent (24-for-54) from the floor and 35.3 percent (6-for-17) from three.
Freshman guard Justin Watson had 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals to lead the Cougars.
Saturday's matchup with the Pioneers is set for an 8 p.m. tip from 'The Dome'.