CAMDEN, N.J. (Jan. 9, 2017) – When a long desperation pass by Neumann University settled into the arms of junior guard Charlie Riccardi (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) as time expired here Monday night, the Rutgers University-Camden men's basketball team had secured more than just a 68-67 non-conference victory and its second straight win.
The Scarlet Raptors' shocker over the previously-unbeaten Knights marked Rutgers-Camden's first victory over a nationally-ranked team in over a decade. The Raptors' last win over a ranked opponent was a 66-65 home victory over Kean University on Jan. 24, 2004, at a time when the Cougars were No. 23 nationally.
The huge win lifts Rutgers-Camden to 2-9 overall, while Neumann falls to 12-1, ending the best undefeated start in its program's history. Neumann was the second undefeated, nationally-ranked opponent that the Scarlet Raptors have faced in their last three games. Last Wednesday, Rutgers-Camden loss to No. 19 Ramapo College (94-86), which hiked its record to 12-0 with the victory and has since moved up to No. 13 nationally.
After securing their first win of the season Saturday over Kean University, the Scarlet Raptors rode that momentum to a bigger win Monday. Sophomore center Isaac Destin (Woodlynne, NJ/Collingswood) notched 19 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) scored 17 points, including the last one of the night – a free throw with 1.7 seconds remaining to break a 67-67 tie. He also finished with a game-high four assists.
In a wild game, the Raptors built a 38-32 halftime lead, watched Neumann roar back midway through the second half to take a six-point lead (49-43) and then rattled off a 19-4 run to hold a 62-53 advantage with 3:10 remaining. Neumann, however, countered with a 14-5 run, capped by a game-tying three-pointer from junior guard Tyaire Hudson (Wilmington, DE/Hodgson Vocational Technical School) with 12 seconds remaining. His shot knotted the score at 67-67.
As the clocked ticked down toward the end of regulation, Marcus Taylor started a drive to the basket, drawing a foul call against Neumann with 1.7 seconds remaining. After missing his first free throw, he nailed the game-winning second shot.
Neumann's attempt at a full-court inbounds pass settled into Riccardi's arms as time expired. Riccardi finished with 11 points for Rutgers-Camden. He hit three huge three-pointers, including one with 7:23 remaining that sliced the Raptors' deficit to 53-52. Moments later, a layup and a foul shot from senior forward Dior Johnson (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) put Rutgers-Camden ahead, 55-53. Three foul shots – two by Marcus Taylor and one by Destin – and a trey by Riccardi capped a 13-point Raptor run, putting Rutgers-Camden ahead 62-53 before Neumann fought back to tie the game.
Rutgers-Camden also received seven points from sophomore guard Sean Taylor (Brooklyn, NY/South Shore), while freshman guard Keith Washington Jr. (Clementon, NJ/Monsignor Bonner) had five points and five rebounds. Johnson finished with four points and four boards.
Neumann's senior forward Carl Wallace (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) and senior guard DeShawn Lowman (Wilmington, DE/Concord) both scored 19 points, while Hudson added 17. Senior forward Darian Barnes (Yeadon, PA/Penn Wood) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds as the Knights held a 34-32 edge off the boards.
Rutgers-Camden shot 52.9 percent from the floor for the game (27-for-51), while Neumann shot 24-for-56 (42.9).
Both teams return to action with 8 p.m. conference road games on Wednesday. Neumann faces Immaculata University in a Colonial States Athletic Conference battle, while Rutgers-Camden plays New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Montclair State University.