Box Score
CHESTER, PA – Forward Tyson Hartnett scored 20 points to lead Rowan University to a 66-60 win over Regis College (MA) in the first round of the Oki Data Americas Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Widener University.
The tournament continues on Saturday, November 21. Regis (1-1) will face St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) (1-2) in the consolation game at 1 p.m. Rowan (2-0) plays Widener (2-0) in the championship at 3 p.m. In the other first round game on Friday, Widener topped St. Joseph’s, 112-58.
Hartnett (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) made six of eight field goals and seven of 10 free throws. He also pulled down seven rebounds. Guard Sean Hughes (jr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) recorded 13 points and four steals. Center Derek Piccini (sr. Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Mem.) added 12 points, while guard Kendall White (fr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) had nine.
For the Pride, center Ndubisi Ezeigwe (fr. Brockton, MA/St. Andrew’s) scored 14 points and forward Jesse Vega (sr. Pawtucket, RI/St. Raphael Academy) followed with 10. Guard Thorton Paul (jr. Boston, MA/West Roxbury) contributed with nine points and guard Derrick Neal (jr. Boston, MA/Brighton) had eight.
Rowan led 33-29 after the first period. In the second half, the Profs scored six straight point to go up by 10 (39-29) at 18:07. Hartnett, Piccini and White each had a layup. Hughes’ jumper at 8:17 extended the lead to 15 points (57-42). The score was 58-48 with 4:13 left to play. Regis went on an 8-0 run to pull within two (58-56) with 2:38 remaining. Guard Darrin Kelly (jr. South Dennis, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth Reg.), Ezeigwe, Vega and Neal all had one basket. Rowan went back up by six (62-56) after field goals by Hughes (2:16) and Piccini (1:24). Ezeigwe had a layup at 00:49, but the Profs made four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Rowan built a 7-2 lead over the first 3:30 of the game. Hartnett recorded four of the seven points. Regis had an 8-1 surge to go up 10-8 at 13:19. The score was tied at 12 following Ezeigwe’s layup at 10:47. The Profs reeled off 10 straight points for a 22-12 advantage. Piccini scored four of the 10 points. Ezeigwe had a layup at 2:19 to bring the Pride within four (24-20). Hartnett hit a three-pointer at 1:04, making the score, 31-24. Paul nailed a three-pointer with 46 seconds left to come within four (31-27). The teams each made two free throws before the end of the half.