SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College men's basketball team handed Rutgers-Camden its first loss of the season with an 65-53 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Garnet held their opponent to their lowest point total of the season, while the Garnet defense put up a season-best performance. 

Three different players scored in double figures for the Garnet. Devin Burger and Brady Kageyama paced the team with 12 points, respectively. Burger posted double-digit points for the third-straight game and has been the leading scorer in all three Swarthmore wins. Eddie Paquette was the third player in double figures with 11 points. 

Despite shooting a lower field goal percentage than Rutgers, the Garnet made up for their struggles by outworking the Scarlet Raptors on the offensive glass. The Garnet grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and won the turnover battle 17-12 to earn 10 extra field goal attempts. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore's effort was on full display with an incredible six offensive rebounds in one possession. Paquette grabbed four of the offensive boards, while Caleb Aurelien was credited with two before tipping in the final rebound. The Garnet opened the game with a 7-0 run. 

- Midway through the stanza, Rutgers drilled a pair of threes to go ahead by three points. However, Paquette evened the score with a three-point play after absorbing heavy contact on a layup. 

- The Garnet executed the first momentum-shifting run with an 11-0 stretch in the first quarter. Devin Burger scored twice during the run, while Ryan Chu and Nyle Coleman added buckets. Coleman then capped off the rally with a triple to take a seven-point lead, 23-16.

- The Scarlet Raptors brought the game within a possession, before Kageyama connected from three to build Swarthmore's lead back to five points. Rutgers tied the game twice before the end of the half, but the Garnet went into the locker room with a two-point lead after a pair of Kageyama free throws, 30-28. 

- Cal Hanson delivered from three-point range to score the first bucket of the second half. Moments later, Jack Guevara connected from deep to put Swarthmore ahead by seven with 15:36 left. 

- Swarthmore took its first double digit lead on an Aurelien layup with 11:17 remaining. The Garnet then built its lead to 13 points on a Kageyama three and a Paquette layup, 51-38. 

- Rutgers fought back to pull within five points at the 4:58 mark. The Garnet responded out of a timeout with a quick bucket from Burger, which was followed by a Burger three on the following possession. Hanson then cashed in a pair of free throws to cap off a 7-0 run, which put the Garnet comfortably in front by 12 points with 2:09 left.  



GARNET LEADERS
Points: Burger, Kageyama 12
Rebounds: Burger 8
Assists: Aurelien 2
Blocks: Godfrey 2
Steals: Burger, Paquette 3

UP NEXT
The Garnet (3-2) travel across town to Widener University in their final contest before Thanksgiving break on Tuesday.