Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J.- The Immaculata men's basketball team tipped off the 2014-15 season on Saturday evening at Rutgers-Camden, and after starting fast, the Mighty Macs (0-1) fell behind and were unable to recover in a 65-57 defeat at the hands of the Scarlet Raptors (1-0).
 
The Mighty Macs got a great effort from sophomore Roy Ferrell Jr. with 18 points, two assists and nine rebounds, all tops on the team, on 7-for-12 shooting.  Senior Mamadou Diakite (seven rebounds) and junior Ron Melton (four rebounds) each had nine points, while junior Tony Calamaro (seven rebounds), senior Xavier Brown and sophomore Matt Simon had six points apiece.
 
For the game, the Mighty Macs shot 30.4% (17-for-56) and 18.5% from three-point range (5-of-27).  Immaculata would outrebound Rutgers-Camden 38-37.
 
IU fired out of the gates, scoring 11 of the game's first 15 points to take an 11-4 lead, their biggest of the game.  Following an opening basket by the Scarlet Raptors, a three-pointer by Melton touched off an 11-2 run.  A jumper by Calamaro, followed by back-to-back threes by Melton and Ferrell Jr. gave the Mighty Macs a seven-point edge just 3:07 into the game.
 
However, Rutgers-Camden would rip off a 14-0 run over 10:09 of game time to take a seven-point lead themselves.  The Mighty Macs would not grab the lead back again the rest of the game as the 10 minute scoring drought proved costly.  A three by Brown would stop the run and a lay-up by Diakite brought the Mighty Macs to within two at 18-16, but it's the closest Immaculata would get the rest of the way.  IU would trail 31-23 at the break.
 
A free throw by Diakite would cut the deficit to seven early in the second half, but a 10-2 Rutgers-Camden spurt swelled the Scarlet Raptor lead to 15 points at 41-26, their largest of the night.
 
Immaculata would respond with a 10-2 run of their own, capped by a free throw from freshman Will Chapman making it 43-36 with just over 12 minutes left.
 
Immaculata would continue to try and fight back into the game, but Rutgers-Camden never let the Mighty Macs get closer than five the rest of the way. 
 
The Mighty Macs look to respond Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Widener.