Men's Basketball Stalls in Final Minutes To Scarlet Raiders

12/15/2012 4:57:00 PM

Box Score

ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's basketball team fell in the late stages of the game and lost 65-58 against non-conference Rutgers University-Newark, Saturday afternoon.

The Scarlet Raiders starter the game with the first two points in the game and extended their lead to as many as five points in the first four minutes of the game to take a 8-3 lead. The Knights would settle in and tie the game 10-10 with 13:13 left in the first half.

The Knights would run their half-court offense that would frustrate the Scarlet Raiders and provide good looks at the basket. The game see-sawed back and forth in the first half, as Mel Weldon hit a three pointer that gave the Knights a 30-28 lead with 2:48 remaining in the first half.

The Scarlet Raiders tied the score at 30-30, before Neumann James Robertson made good on a layup and made one of two from the charity stripe to take a 33-30 lead. Steve Warhola gave the Knights their largest lead (six point lead) with a three point shot and eight seconds left before intermission to take a 36-30 lead.

The momentum continued to swing the Knights way to start the second half as they took the largest lead all game, extending the lead to 11 points with 16:37 remaining in the game on a TaVaune Griffin jumper.

The Scarlet Raiders wriggled their way back in the game cutting the lead to four points 54-50 with 6:27 left in the game. Rich Witten hit two free throws to take a six point advantage back. The Scarlet Raiders hit two layups and a free to trail by one 56-55 with 3:45 remaining in the game.

The Knights would trail for the first time in the second half with 3:14 and on the ensuing play, Rich Whitten had a chance to reclaim the lead with a one and one opportunity. Whitten missed the front end of the one and one as Christian Garcia drained a two point field goal to take a 59-56 lead.

Griffin hit two free throws to close the gap, but the Knights would score again with 2:10 left in the game. The Scarlet Knights made their last six free throw attempts to win 65-58.

Terrance Clark led the Knights with 11 points and Griffin added 10 points.

The Knights (3-5, 2-1 CSAC) play again at non-conference Stockton College December 18 at 7 p.m.

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