Camden, NJ - With the race for the last couple of spots in the six-team New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs wide open, the men's basketball showdown between Rutgers University-Camden and Montclair State University took on added importance here Saturday afternoon. And in a battle befitting its significance, it wasn't until the final buzzer, when a last-gasp Scarlet Raptor layup attempt missed, that the Red Hawks escaped with a 67-65 victory.
 
Montclair State improves to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in the NJAC, snapping a three-game losing streak. Rutgers-Camden falls to 2-10 overall and 1-6 in the conference with its fourth straight loss.
 
The Red Hawks lead the all-time series, 49-9, and have won the last six games against the Scarlet Raptors. The last Raptor win was a 69-59 victory in Camden on Dec. 15, 2012.
 
Saturday's game was tight most of the way after Rutgers-Camden survived falling into a quick 9-0 hole on a trio of three-pointers by the Red Hawks. Montclair State carried that quick start to a 31-23 halftime lead, sparked by eight points from junior guard ERICK LOFTEN-HARRIS (Brooklyn, NY/Union) and six from sophomore center/forward JARRETT BOGUS (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex).
 
Although Rutgers-Camden never led in the game, the Scarlet Raptors rallied in the second half to forge a trio of ties at 38-38, 40-40 and 42-42. Moments after tying the game at 42 on a layup by freshman guard Elijah Robles (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), the Red Hawks regained their tenuous lead for good on a three-pointer by junior forward/center DANIEL RODRIGUEZ (Burlington Township, NJ/Northeast Prep, PA).
 
Montclair State led by six points, 54-48, before the Raptors trimmed the margin to one, aided by a three-pointer from senior guard Jonathan Baker-Jernigan (Willingboro, NJ/BCIT-Medford) and a layup by sophomore forward Abby Bah (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial).
 
With 17 seconds remaining, a pair of foul shots by Loften-Harris gave the Red Hawks a 66-62 lead, but Robles canned a three-pointer moments later to make it a 66-65 game. Red Hawks junior guard SHAUN RUSSELL (Brooklyn, NY/Willingboro) hit one of two foul shots with five seconds left, setting the stage for the Raptors' last drive down the court. Robles' attempt for a game-tying layup at the buzzer was blocked by a crowd under the basket and the shot came up just short.
 
Junior forward BRANDON CHANNER (Manchester, Jamaica/Strawberry Crest, FL) finished with 16 points for the Red Hawks, while Loften-Harris added 14 points and a game-high six assists.
 
Robles canned a career-high 24 points to lead Rutgers-Camden, passing his previous high of 22 set against The College of New Jersey Nov. 24. Sophomore guard Charlie Riccardi (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) also notched his collegiate high with 15 points.
 
Bah finished with a game-high 11 rebounds for the Scarlet Raptors.
 
Both teams return to NJAC action with road games Wednesday night. Montclair State plays a 6 p.m. contest against Stockton University, while Rutgers-Camden tips off at 8 p.m. against New Jersey City University.