NEWARK, N.J. – Sophomore Billy Veras scored a game-high 17 points but it was not enough as the Centenary University men's basketball team fell at Rutgers Newark University, 79-53 on Thursday night in nonconference action.

Rutgers Newark jumped out to a 10-5 lead on a Quincy Rutherford lay-up at 15:15.

The two teams traded baskets as the Scarlet Raiders pushed their advantage to 19-10 on a Tyrone Bowens jumper with 10:54 showing on the clock.

A pair of three-pointers from junior Chris LaBelle sandwiched around a free throw by Rutgers Newark made it a 20-16 game with 9:10 left in the stanza.

The Cyclones and Scarlet Raiders continued to battle on each end of the court as a jumper from LaBelle at 5:07 made it a 25-18 game.

Rutgers Newark scored the next seven points and pushed its lead to 14, 32-18 with 3:01 showing on the clock.

Centenary scored four of the final five points in the half but Rutgers Newark led 33-22 at the half.

A Veras lay-up at 19:01 of the second half made it a 35-24 game.

A 6-0 run by the home team gave Rutgers Newark a 41-24 lead with 17:17 to play in the game.

The two teams continued to battle over the final 15 minutes of the game as the Scarlet Raiders maintained their double digit advantage en route to a 79-53 victory.

Rutgers Newark shot 45.5% from the field in the game and knocked down 11 three-pointers in the game. The Cyclones posted a 32.7 field goal percentage but was just 5-for-18 from behind the arc. Centenary was 14-for-19 from the foul line. The Scarlet Raiders won the rebounding battle, 42-33.

Veras added six rebounds and a block to go along with his game-high 17 points. LaBelle finished with 11 points and five boards while freshman Owen Roberts III contributed seven points and six rebounds.

Mike Vick led Rutgers Newark with 16 points and six rebounds.

The Cyclones are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 23 when they travel to SUNY Dehli at 4 p.m.