EWING, N.J. – A late second-half surge propelled the TCNJ men's basketball team to its fourth-straight win to start the 2021 season on Saturday. The Lions toughed out the victory over Rutgers-Camden by a final score of 58-50.

The Scarlet Raptors held a 41-38 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game, but the Lions went out in front via an 18-4 run. P.J. Ringel ignited the run with a pair of steals that led to fast-break lay-ups. Danny Bodine converted a put-back after grabbing an offensive rebound, then scored from in close again to push the lead to 46-41 with 6:36 left to play.

Rutgers-Camden recorded a bucket to pull within 50-43 with 4:06 to play, but the Lions had the answers to keep the Scarlet Raptors at arm's length. Travis Jocelyn scored a lay-up off of a Bodine assist that put TCNJ ahead, 52-43. Bodine remained active on the offensive glass, and hit another put-back that bumped the lead to 54-45. Ringel came up with a steal that led to a fast-break lay-up yet again to put TCNJ up 56-45 with 1:42 left in the game.

Rutgers-Camden made it interesting in the final minute by pulling within 56-50 with 37 seconds to play. The Scarlet Raptors got the ball back after a turnover, yet could not trim the lead down to four. Ringel sealed the game with a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left.

The Lions held a 27-20 lead heading into halftime. Rutgers-Camden had an 18-14 lead with seven minutes left, but TCNJ went on a 13-2 run to end the half. A three-pointer and a lay-up from Jason Larranaga put the Lions ahead, 23-20. A dunk from Jocelyn with under two minutes to play in the half pushed the lead to seven.

Jocelyn scored exactly 17 points for the second game in a row. The senior forward shot 6-of-10 from the field. Ringel did a little bit of everything, as the senior point guard tallied 12 points, six rebounds, six steals, and four assists. The six steals are a career-high for the Marlboro, N.J. native. Bodine added 13 points and five rebounds.

The Lions' defense stifled Rutgers-Camden for the second-straight game. TCNJ forced 22 turnovers. The Lions guarded the three ball well, as the Scarlet Raptors shot just 4-of-13 (30.8%) from long distance.

TCNJ will return to action against Kean next weekend. Game one is in Packer Hall on Feb. 19 at 5:00 p.m.