Box Score


Camden, NJ … The College of New Jersey men's basketball team finished its season victorious as they defeated Rutgers University-Camden 75-58.
 
The Lions finished their season schedule with an overall record of 9-16 and registered their third win in New Jersey Athletic Conference play.
 
Seniors Kyle Rawson (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills) and Albert Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) made certain they were able to taste victory in their final game in blue and gold. Rawson scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Matlock put up 13 points and two assists. Both players hit a pair of three-point field goals.
 
Freshman Emmanuel Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) put forth another terrific performance, netting a game-high 15 points and team-high seven rebounds. He also produced six steals in the win.
 
The Lions never trailed in the game. When freshman Drew Grapstul (Bayonne, NJ/Hudson Catholic) hit a short jumper to break a 2-2 tie, TCNJ sprinted out to an 11-2 advantage. Junior Donovan Smalls (Union, NJ/Union) increased the lead to 14 when he drained a three-point shot at the 8:12 mark
 
Points off turnovers were significant for the Lions. They outscored the Scarlet Raptors 18-4 in that category and only turned the ball over six times in the game.
 
The elder Matlock led the way with eight first-half points and Rawson registered seven. TCNJ led 37-23 at the half, which was a sign of good things to come for head coach Kelly Williams. The Lions were 9-6 in games this season when they were not behind at the break.
 
TCNJ continued its momentum in the opening moments of the second half as Albert Matlock knocked a jumper followed by a Rawson three-pointer. Matlock then fed sophomore Dan Balevski (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-South) for a layup and then drilled a shot from the behind the arc to put the Lions ahead 47-26.
 
Balevski finished with seven points and four rebounds, while Smalls and sophomore Jason Chalmers (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) each had eight points. Freshman Ryan Keegan (Farmingdale, NJ/Howell) chipped in with five points and two assists.
 
While the team is disappointed they missed qualifying for the NJAC playoffs, progress was made this year compared from a season ago. The Lions more-than doubled their win total from 2010-11, increased their offensive output by three points per game, and decreased points against by five points per game.
 
Rawson gave everything he had during his senior season, leading the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game and rebounding with 4.2 per game. Albert Matlock also shined with a team-high 27 three-pointers during the season.
 
The underclassmen also made their presence known throughout the season. Emmanuel Matlock displayed flashes of brilliance running the point, dishing out a team-best 55 assists. He also scored 6.7 points per game and swiped 43 steals on the season.
 
Sophomore Skyelar Ettin (6.4 points per game), Matthew Rista (7.3 points per game), and Alex Fox (5.4 ppg) had productive seasons on both ends of the floor, while Chalmers and Keegan also brought energy off the bench.
 
Coach Williams will look to continue building the program during the off-season. In the near-term, the Lions will support the women's basketball program, who will host an NJAC playoff game on Saturday, February 18 at 1 p.m. in Packer Hall.