HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Sophomore guard Chris LaBelle poured in a game-high 25 points as the Centenary University men's basketball team fell to Rutgers-Newark on Monday night by a 72-59 score.

Rutgers-Newark got off to a quick 8-0 lead in the game and extended that advantage to 18-4 as Mark Thomas made 1-of-2 from the foul line at 12:44.

An 8-2 run pulled the Cyclones to within eight, 20-12 with 9:35 to go in the period. Sophomore Larry Joseph had back-to-back buckets during that run.

The Scarlet Raiders scored eight of the next 11 points and pushed their advantage back to 13, 28-15 with 6:48 showing on the clock.

LaBelle went on a 5-2 run of his own and cut the Rutgers-Newark lead to 10, 30-20 with 2:32 left in the stanza.

The Scarlet Raiders scored five of the final seven points in the period and took a 35-22 lead at the half.

Rutgers-Newark opened the second half on an 8-2 run and led 43-24 with 15:33 to go in the game. Chase Barneys tallied six of those eight points for the Scarlet Raiders.

The two teams traded baskets on both ends of the court as Tyrone Bowens Jr.'s layup at 8:27 gave the Scarlet Raiders a 59-34 lead, their largest of the contest.

Centenary responded by scoring 21 of the next 30 points in the game and cut the visitors' advantage to 13, 68-55 with 2:43 to go in the game. LaBelle played a big part in that run as he scored 16 of the Cyclones' 21 points.

Rutgers-Newark pushed its lead back to 17 before junior Brandon Yu scored the final four points of the game for the Cyclones. Yu's points were his first of the season and came via a three-pointer and a free throw. That made the final score 72-59 in favor of Rutgers-Newark.

Rutgers-Newark posted a 48.0 field goal percentage in the game and made 22-of-26 chances from the foul line. Centenary had a 40.0 field goal percentage in the game and went 14-for-25 from the charity stripe. The Scarlet Raiders held a 36-30 advantage in the rebounding battle.

LaBelle added five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks to go along with his 25 points for the Cyclones. Joseph contributed 15 points while freshman Billy Veras pulled down a game-high 11 points.

Barneys led Rutgers-Newark with 14 points while Tyler Ofray added 12 points.

The Cyclones are off until Friday, Dec. 21 when they host Delaware Valley at 2 p.m.