Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. (December 1, 2013) – Rutgers-Newark (3-2) defeated Stevens Institute of Technology (2-3) by a score of 69-64 Sunday afternoon at The Golden Dome Arena in Newark, N.J.
 
Stevens was led by a career-high 21 points and three rebounds from senior guard Andrew Meszaros (Phoenixville, Pa.) who shot 8-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from long range.
 
Trailing 41-37 with 17:11 left in regulation, Meszaros tied the game with a four-point play, and the Ducks took the lead at 46-43 when senior guard Matt Skrelja (Clark, N.J.) found sophomore guard Evan Klimchak (Readington, N.J.) open for a triple.
 
Stevens pushed the lead to six points (51-45) thanks to 3-of-4 at the line, but the Scarlet Raiders ran off eight-straight points to reclaim the advantage at 12:02 of the second, and the lead moved to eight points with 8:32 remaining.
 
A pair of Meszaros free throws slowed the Newark momentum and made it a 61-55 game, and a Skrelja jumper brought Stevens within four points with a little more than seven minutes on the clock. The Ducks trimmed the lead to two points after a stop and layup from sophomore forward Alex Lorenz (Point Pleasant Borough, N.J.), but a pair at the line from sophomore forward Jordan McDaniel (Colonia, N.J.) halted the Stevens run at six.
 
Meszaros made the score 63-61 Rutgers-Newark with a layup with 4:08 showing, and after two Scarlet Raiders makes at the line, a three-pointer from Klimchak brought the Ducks within one with 2:15 left.
 
Stevens forced a turnover on the next Newark possession, but the Ducks were unable to convert and the hosts scored the final four points of the game at the line.
 
Stevens shot 55.8 percent from the field, converting 24 of their 42 attempts and hit on 7-of-13 from deep. The Ducks went 9-for-13 at the line but were out-rebounded 31-18, including 14-4 on the offensive glass. Each team committed 20 turnovers and Stevens dished out 16 assists on its 24 made buckets.
 
In the first half, the Ducks opened a 32-25 lead after a three-pointer from Meszaros capped an 8-0 run, but the Scarlet Raiders close the period on a 9-1 run to take a 34-33 lead into the locker room.
 
Junior guard John Snow (Newark, N.J.) led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting for Rutgers-Newark.
 
Klimchak and junior forward Patrick Sabatino (Westfield, N.J.) joined Meszaros in double figures, with Skrelja finishing with eight points and six assists. Junior forward Kenny Gan (Hillsborough, N.J.) had seven points and five helpers for the Ducks.
 
The Ducks return to action Wednesday night at 8 p.m. when they host Baruch College. All the action will be webcast live at www.Empire8.TV.