Senior guard Levi Holton played a key role in the Rutgers University-Newark men’s basketball team’s victory over Rutgers University-Camden.
The Scarlet Raiders secured a commanding 81-64 win on Tuesday night in their New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener.
Holton’s stellar first-half performance, with 13 points, helped the Scarlet Raiders build a 20-point halftime lead, which set the stage for their fourth win of the season.
Rutgers-Newark, now 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC, made its dominance in the series known, extending its all-time advantage to 62-37 and claiming victory in 11 of the last 12 meetings.
Rutgers-Camden, dropping to 5-2 overall and 0-1 in the NJAC, couldn’t overcome the early deficit.
The game began with a quick three-pointer by Camden’s senior forward Jordany Pierre just 11 seconds into play.
However, Newark swiftly responded, tying the game on a three-point play by senior guard Pascal Dodard.
Senior forward Travis Miles followed with two free throws to give the Scarlet Raiders a lead they never relinquished.
It’s no secret that Newark’s defense was relentless. They held Camden scoreless for over five minutes in the first half and extended their lead to 13-4.
By halftime, the Scarlet Raiders were firmly in control with a 42-22 advantage, thanks to contributions from Holton (13 points) and Dodard (11 points).
Dodard finished the game with a standout 21 points, while Holton recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior guard Shy’Heed Jenkins-Floyd added 15 points, and Miles chipped in 12.
Camden’s junior forward Cameron Downs led his team with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Freshman Ryan Senft added nine points and four assists, whereas junior guard Eric Benjamin contributed eight points.
Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, with Camden shooting 14-for-31 (45.2%) and Newark faring better at 29-for-42 (69.0%).
Newark also dominated the boards with a 46-37 rebounding edge and forced 20 Camden turnovers while committing just 11.
The Scarlet Raptors will aim to rebound on Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Rowan University; meanwhile, the Scarlet Raiders look to build on this momentum in their next NJAC contest.
