Reading, Pa. (Nov. 8, 2025) -  Rutgers Camden (1-0) overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Alvernia University (1-0), 81-76, on Saturday afternoon in the 2025-26 Men's Basketball season-opener at Alvernia.

The Golden Wolves jumped out to a 20-4 lead through seven minutes of action, and Alvernia led by at least nine points through the remainder of the opening half. Alvernia continued to hold a ten point lead with ten minutes to play before Rutgers began to fully close in. After hovering within four points for a few minutes, Rutgers utilized a nearly five minute scoreless stretch by Alvernia to tie the game and take the lead. The Raptors led the rest of the way for the 81-76 comeback victory. Rutgers outscored Alvernia 32-14 in the final 11 minutes of the game.

How it Happened

• Alvernia came out firing, jumping out to a 14-0 lead through four and a half minutes of action. Rasheem Dearry scored five of Alvernia's opening 14, with Mason Jones adding another three. Alvernia went 5-for-6 during the run.
• The Raptors got on the board with a layup with 14:50 remaining on the clock, but Alvernia built its lead up to 16, 20-4, with a 3-point play by Robert Cottrell and a 3-pointer by Saleem Bell-Hudson.
• The Golden Wolves continued to roll and made it a 17-point game, 38-21, on an Elijah Hamilton layup with five minutes to play in the half. The Golden Wolves pushed it to a 19-point lead, 47-28, on a pair of made free throws by Dearry with a minute to go. The Raptors then scored the final four points of the half as Alvernia took the 47-32 lead into the half.
• Alvernia opened the second half with a Hamilton layup, but Rutgers scored the next five to close within 12, 49-37, two minutes into the half. The two teams traded points over the next five minutes as Alvernia continued to hold a strong lead, 59-43.
• The Raptors then used a quick 6-0 run to close within ten, 59-49, with 13 minutes to play. Alvernia pushed its lead back to 13, 62-49, but a layup in transition brought the Raptors 11, 62-51, with 11:28 to play. That layup ignited the Raptors 32-14 run to close out the game.
• The Raptors closed with four, 62-58, and stayed within striking distance until a 3-pointer evened the game up at 68-68 with 5:40 to play.
• The Raptors took the lead, 70-68, on a pair of made free throws and made it a four point game, 72-68, on a layup with 3:10 to play.
• Rutgers then pushed its lead to five, 77-72, with a pair of layups with two minutes to play, but Alvernia got back within three with a Hamilton layup .
• Alvernia then made it a two-point game, 78-76, on another layup by Hamilton with 47 seconds to play. But, the Golden Wolves were forced to start fouling and the Raptors made three free throws in the final minute to secure the 81-76 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Elijah Hamilton led Alvernia with 22 points and nine rebounds, and Rasheem Deary finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Robert Cottrell finished with 12 points and Janye Stanley had 10.

Up Next

• Alvernia hosts Penn State Abington on Monday night at 8:00 PM following the women's game versus Penn State Brandywine at 6:00 PM.