Newark, NJ...The College of New Jersey men's basketball team (10-5, 6-2 NJAC) closed out the game on a 7-0 run, to defeat Rutgers University – Newark (4-11, 3-5 NJAC) 64-57 Wednesday night.

The Lions came out hot, with Corey Stanford (Pittsburgh, PA / Penn Trafford) hitting a three-pointer and a lay-up surrounding a Bobby Brackett (Lawrenceville, NJ / Lawrence) free throw to score the game's first six points. Brackett finished with his ninth double-double on the season scoring 15 points to go along with 14 rebounds.

The Scarlet Raiders responded and tied the game briefly at 15-15, but Kevin Bloodgood (Oceanport, NJ / Shore Regional) knocked down a triple, which gave TCNJ a lead they would take into the half. The Lions led at the half 29-24. Bloodgood grabbed a season-high six boards in the contest.

The Lions began the second stanza well, growing the lead to 37-29. Chase Barneys followed by scoring the next eight points to tie the game for the second time. Just as before, TCNJ refused to relinquish the lead, Stanford answering with five straight points of his own to keep the Lions in front. Stanford ended with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds, achieving his fifth double-double of the year. Barneys led Rutgers-Newark with 15 points and seven assists.

With TCNJ clinging to a 57-53 lead Mark Thomas hit two free throws and a jumper, to knot the game for a third time with just over two minutes to play.  

One final time, the Lions were up to task. Brackett drew a foul and knocked down both shots from the charity stripe. Then with 30 seconds left, Eric Murdock, Jr. (Bridgewater, NJ / Bridgewater) stripped a Scarlet Raider and cruised in for lay-up. TCNJ knocked down three free-throws down the stretch for the final score. Murdock, Jr. finished with 12 points bringing his career total to 933.

The Lions out-shot the Scarlet Raiders 40.4% (23-57) to 35.8% (19-53) and held a 44-36 advantage on the glass. TCNJ never trailed in the contest, leading for 35:17.

TCNJ returns home Saturday, January 14 when the Lions play host to Montclair State as the second half of a double-header with the women's team. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm.