Box Score
BALTIMORE, MD – The Rowan University men’s basketball team defeated McMurry University (TX), 68-63 in the Blue Jay Classic at Johns Hopkins University.
With 6:42 remaining and Rowan down 57-56, guard Matt Byrnes (jr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) scored the Profs’ next nine points to gain a 65-60 lead they would never relinquish. McMurry cut the deficit to two with 28 seconds left, but Rowan hit three of four foul shots down the stretch to seal the victory.
Rowan will face Johns Hopkins University in the championship game at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. McMurry will play Immaculata in the consolation game at 6 p.m. JHU won 71-58 over Immaculata in the second game.
Byrnes scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both game highs, to lead the Profs. Guard Thomas Baker (sr. Millville, NJ/Millville) added 14 points. Guard Santini Lancioni (fr. Burlington, NJ/Paul VI) had 11 points in his Rowan debut.
Guard Alvin Stevens led the Indians with 13 points and six rebounds. Guard Colt Tharpe provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Forward Terrance Willis added 12 points.
Rowan jumped out to a 10-0 lead after a layup by Lancioni at 15:24. McMurry got on the board with Tharpe’s first three-pointer and then closed the deficit to 14-9 with 11:54 remaining in the first half. Following a timeout, the Profs were able to extend their lead to 21-12 following two foul shots by Baker at 8:24. The Indians battled back with a 10-0 run capped by a Willis layup to take a 22-21 lead with 5:37 left. Tharpe hit his fourth three-pointer of the half at 3:17 to give McMurry a 32-27 advantage. Rowan regained the lead after five consecutive points by Lancioni and went into halftime holding a 34-33 lead.
Rowan extended its lead to five 50 seconds into the second half after a Lancioni steal and layup. McMurry fought back and went up 49-45 on a dunk by Willis. Rowan guard Billy Care (so. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) converted a three-point play to give the Profs a 52-51 advantage at the 13:02 mark. The Indians reclaimed the lead (56-54) on a Willis three-pointer with 8:36 left.
