Box Score
BALTIMORE, MD – The Johns Hopkins University men’s basketball team won the championship game of the Blue Jay Classic over Rowan University, 70-68 on Saturday night.
Johns Hopkins’ winning basket was scored by guard T.J. Valerio (sr. Blue Bell, PA/St. Joseph’s Prep) with two second left on the clock. Rowan had a last attempt shot that hit the rim. Valerio ended the game with 19 points. Forward Danny Nawrocki (sr. Syosset, NY/Chaminade) was in double digits with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Forward Matt Griffin (sr. Glen Mills, PA/Penncrest) contributed with 11 points.
Rowan was led by forward Matt Byrnes (jr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oackrest) recorded a game-high 24 points. Byrnes also grabbed eight rebounds. Guard Santini Lancioni (fr. Burlington, NJ/Paul VI) added 10 points and dished six assists. Byrnes and Lancioni were selected to the All-Tournament Team.
The Blue Jays are 2-0 on the season while the Profs have a 1-1 record. In the first round, Rowan defeated McMurry University (TX), 68-63 and Johns Hopkins won 71-58 over Immaculata University.
In the second half, the score was tied two times before the Blue Jays went up 35-33 at 18:09 on a jumper by Valerio. JHU held onto the lead until 6:09 when forward Rahim Shiver (so. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) had a basket that put Rowan up 57-56. Valerio nailed a three with 3:15 remaining to lead by four (64-60). He hit his fifth three-pointer of the game for a 67-60 advantage with under three minutes left to play. The Profs pulled within one (67-66) after six straight points, four by Byrnes and two from Lancioni, with 1:12 remaining. Griffin made the first of two foul shots (68-66) at the 40 second mark while forward Thomas Baker (sr. Millville, NJ/Millville) tied it with a jumper with 25 seconds left.
Johns Hopkins outscored Rowan, 12-3 in the first five minutes of the game. The Blue Jays were ahead by seven (18-11) with 10:40 left. The Profs cut the deficit to one (21-20) with a 9-3 run that ended at 7:14. Byrnes contributed with six points. Lancioni’s layup at 1:43 gave Rowan the lead (27-25). The Profs were up by four points (29-25) after a basket by Baker. The half ended with Rowan ahead 31-29.
Rowan is on the road again on Tuesday, November 21 at Medgar Evers College at 7 p.m.
