Box Score

Ewing, NJ … A desperation three-pointer at the buzzer bounced in and out as The College of New Jersey men's basketball team dropped a 59-56 decision to Rutgers-Newark in Packer Hall on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the third straight loss for the Lions (6-7, 1-3), while the Scarlet Raiders (9-5, 2-1) copped their ninth win of the season.
 
TCNJ sophomore Matthew Rista (Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony's) launched a three-point shot attempt from 35 feet at the buzzer, but it hit the front rim, backboard, and then bounced out to end the game.
 
Rista led TCNJ with 10 points as 12 different players appeared in the scoring column for the Lions. Junior Donovan Smalls (Union, NJ/Union) finished with nine points and and sophomore Dan Balevski (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor South) grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Newark climbed on the shoulders of senior guard Pedro Burgos (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee), who led all scorers with 22 points. Burgos was the difference in the game as he drilled five consecutive three-point shots to open the second half, giving the Scarlet Raiders the lead and momentum in the contest.
 
Senior Jeremiah Rivers (Newark, NJ/St. Anthonly's) added six points and a game-high 11 rebounds while junior Al' Do Muhammad (Irvington, NJ/Queen of Peace) finished with seven assists.
 
TCNJ held a 29-21 advantage at the break. Nine different players scored points for the Lions in the opening half as rotating personnel and foul trouble forced the Scarlet Raiders to use their bench and sustain match-ups.
 
The game was deadlocked at 12 midway through the opening period before the Lions generated a 7-0 run. The short spurt was capped by a brother-to-brother combo, as the freshman Emmanuel Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) fed older sibling Albert Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebory) for a long three-point field goal with 5:40 to play in the half.
 
Both teams struggled to find their shooting stroke in the first half, however, each converting on just 33 percent of their shot attempts. Taking care of the basketball was the key for TCNJ as they turned the ball over just twice, while the Scarlet Raiders gave it away nine times.
 
Burgos came out of the locker room white-hot as he drilled five straight three-pointers to put Rutgers-Newark ahead 39-37 at the 14:37 mark. They extended their lead to seven after Greg Moore (Jersey City, NJ/Bayonne) banked in a layup with six minutes to play.
 
The Lions battled back to draw within two points with three minutes remaining. After a huge defensive stand, senior Kyle Rawson (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills) drove to his left and rolled one off his fingertips to cut the deficit to 57-56 with 1:28 left on the clock.
 
TCNJ had a chance to take the lead with less than 20 seconds remaining but couldn't get a shot off. RN's Christian Garcia (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) then hit both free throws, before Rista's long attempt at a three-pointer at caromed out in defeat.
 
TCNJ visits Princeton University tomorrow afternoon in a non-conference Mercer County match-up. The game is scheduled for tip-off at 2 p.m. in Jadwyn Gym. Rutgers-Newark will take on William Paterson University on Wednesday, January 11 at 6 p.m.