Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – Forward Matt Byrnes scored a game-high 30 points to lead Rowan University to an 85-79 win over Immaculata University on Friday night.

Byrnes (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) connected on 11 of 17 shots from the floor, seven of eight free throws and one of four three-pointers. Guards Kevin Darby (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) and Billy Care (jr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) posted 17 and 13 points respectively. They each grabbed six rebounds. Forward Rahim Shiver (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) recorded nine points and nine boards. Forward Dwayne Reevey (sr. Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) totaled seven rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots.

Rowan improves to 9-1, while Immaculata has a 6-1 record. For the Mighty Macs, guard Sean Fordham (jr. Elkins Park, PA/Cheltenham) scored 16 points, while guard Kyle Finklea (jr. Sharon Hill, PA/Penn Wood) followed with 15. Guard Julius Lopez (jr. Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) contributed with 11 points and forward Jayson Hyman (so. Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) and guard Reggie Strickland (sr. Philadelphia, PA/Central) each had 10. Hyman also added nine rebounds and five steals.

Immaculata led 44-40 at the intermission. The game was tied four times in the first 6:12 of the second half, with the last one (52-52) coming at 13:48. Rowan scored six straight points to go up 58-52 (12:17) on two foul shots by Care. Reevey’s layup at 8:39 gave the Profs a seven point advantage (67-60). The Mighty Macs had an 8-0 run to lead by one (68-67) with 6:13 left to play. Lopez made a three-pointer, Jones and Hyman each sunk two free throws and Fordham made one foul shot. Two buckets by Byrnes at 5:59 and 5:25 put Rowan ahead 71-68. Byrnes’ layup with 4:18 remaining increased the lead to seven points (76-69). Lopez had a layup at 2:05 that cut the deficit to three (78-75). Byrnes’ three pointer (1:42) and two free throws by both Reddan (00:42) and Shiver (00:36) made the score 85-75. The Mighty Macs had baskets by Hyman (00:26) and Fordham (00:18), but Rowan held on for the win.

In the first period, the game was tied 2-2 at 19:01. Rowan had a 6-0 surge to go up 8-2 at 17:19. Darby’s jumper at 11:22 put the Profs ahead 19-15. The Mighty Macs went on a 10-2 run for a 25-21 advantage at 8:11. Finklea scored five points, while Lopez and Strickland had two and forward Robert Jones (sr. Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion) made one foul shot. Fordham hit a three-pointer at 4:39 for a 34-27 lead. The Profs reeled off nine consecutive points to go up 36-34 with 2:48 left. Immaculata closed out the stanza with a 10-3 surge to lead 44-40 at halftime.

At the break, Byrnes led all scorers with 16 points. Shiver and Darby chipped in with seven points apiece. Guard Dan Lepone (sr. Richboro, PA/Abington Friends), Finklea and Fordham each had nine points.

Rowan returns to action after the break at Cabrini College on Saturday, January 5 at 1 p.m.