News Release

Upper Montclair, NJ — Senior guard Gene Mergenthal scored a game-high 22 points and Tyrone Rucker added 18 as Rutgers-Camden knocked off Montclair State, 77-70, in New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

The win was the first by the Scarlet Raptors (4-13, 2-5 NJAC) over the Red Hawks (9-7, 2-5 NJAC) since December 6, 1991, a span of 23 games.

Dane Nicholson added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Scarlet Raptors used a 10-0 run late in the second half to pull away to the victory. Gian Paul Gonzalez had 18 points and 13 rebounds for MSU, who had their two-game win streak snapped.

Rutgers-Camden, which led for most of the contest, saw an 11-point lead disappear midway through the second half as the Red Hawks went on a 15-4 run over a five-minute span to tie the game at 64-64 with 4:10 to play. However, the Scarlet Raptors responded as Nicholson hit four straight free throws to regain the lead and Jarett Mutts scored on a fast-break layup to give RU-Camden a 70-64 advantage. Mutts added another layup with 2:39 left and Mergenthal made four free throws to make the score 74-64 with 1:29 to play.

James Kosior stopped the run with a three-pointer, but Mike Hopson made two foul shots and Mergenthal one to ice the game and give the Scarlet Raptors their first win over Montclair since a 67-64 win in Camden in 1991.

Hopson finished with 10 points for Rutgers-Camden, which shot 41 percent from the field (25-of-60) and made nine three-pointers in the games. Mergenthal added seven rebounds and eight assists.

Michael Davis had 17 points and 12 rebounds for MSU, which also got 10 points, five rebounds and four assists from Anwar Montgomery.