NEWARK, N.J. (February 4, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team clinched a spot in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament with its win on Wednesday night at Kean University.
 
The Scarlet Raiders are currently tied for third place in the standings with Ramapo College at 10-4, one game behind New Jersey City University and Stockton University who are tied for first at 11-3.
 
Seeding for the tournament is far from solidified with four games left on the regular-season schedule, but the Scarlet Raiders will be definitely competing for the NJAC title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
 
"It's definitely a positive," said Head Coach Joe Loughran. "We have larger goals and we have a lot more work to do, but in order to have a chance at a league title and an NCAA Tournament appearance, we have to make the NJAC Tournament and we have done that."
 
Rutgers-Newark has reached the NJAC Tournament each year since the 2010-11 season and has made the conference semifinals in each appearance since 2011-12.
 
The Scarlet Raiders will be looking to position themselves in the final four games of the regular-season as the top-two teams in the standings earn first-round byes, with seeds three and four hosting an opening round contest on February 20.
 
Next on the slate for the Scarlet Raiders is a matchup with William Paterson University on Saturday in The Golden Dome Arena. R-N will then hit the road for a tilt at Rutgers University-Camden before coming home on February 13 to host Rowan University. The February 13 game will serve as senior night, with the Department of Athletics honoring seniors David Azoroh, Morgan Dixon, Jordan McDaniel, Vik Singh, Shiloh Siegenthaler, John Snow and Ricky Stephens. The regular-season finale will be at Ramapo which is the team the Scarlet Raiders are currently deadlocked with in the standings.
 
Back on January 9, the Scarlet Raiders earned a conference road win at Paterson, downing the Pioneers 78-65.
 
Saturday's tip-off is set for 8 p.m. from The Golden Dome Arena and all proceeds from the game will go to the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and #TEAMHEDDA.