Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Forward Matt Byrnes scored a game-high 37 points to lead Rowan University to a 101-89 win over Neumann College on Wednesday night.
The Profs improve to 4-1, while the Knights have a 3-4 mark. Byrnes (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) connected on 11 of 17 field goals, three of six three-pointers and 12 of 13 free throws. Byrnes moves into second place on the University’s all-time scoring list. In 83 career games, he has compiled 1,574 points. He is just 55 points away from breaking the school record of 1,628 points held by Terrance Stewart (1992-96).
Rowan guard Kevin Darby (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) tied his career-high with 18 points. Guard Billy Care (jr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) and guard Aaron Spellman (jr. Pine Hill, NJ/St. Joseph’s (Hammonton)) were also in double figures with 14 and 10 points respectively. Darby and Care each pulled down eight rebounds and Spellman dished a career best six assists.
For Neumann, guard Na’Sheed Linton (so. Trenton, NJ/Solebury Prep) totaled 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Guard Derahn Patrick (sr. Chester, PA/Chester) contributed with 16 points and guard Mike Hitchens (jr. Ardsley, PA/Abington) had nine.
Rowan started the game with an 18-0 run over the first 4:16. Byrnes scored 11 points, Care added five and Darby had two. Forward Tim Cook’s (so. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) jumper at 9:22 put the Profs up by 25 (33-8). Rowan’s biggest lead of the half was 27 points (44-17) at 4:57. Byrnes’ jumper with six seconds left made the score 54-30 at the intermission.
Byrnes led all first half scorers with 24 points. Darby followed with 10 points and Care had seven. For the Knights, Linton posted 11 points.
In the second period, Rowan was ahead 67-45 at 11:02 following a jumper by Care. The Knights had the next seven points to cut the deficit to 15 points (67-52) at 8:54. Patrick made a three-pointer, forward Thomas Davis (jr. New York, NY/Our Savior) connected on two free throws and guard Marquise Boggs (fr. Conshohocken, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) had one. Rowan had a 19 point advantage (92-73) with 1:45 remaining. Neumann came as close as 11 points (97-86) at 00:21 after a layup by Hitchens. Byrnes hit one foul shot and forward Rahim Shiver (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) made two to put the Profs up 101-86. Linton’s three-pointer with two seconds left ended the game.
Rowan hosts the Heritage’s Dairy Stores Classic on Friday-Saturday, December 7-8. In the first round on Friday, Widener University plays Penn State Brandywine at 6 p.m. and Valley Forge Christian College faces Rowan at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the consolation game is at 1 p.m. followed by the championship at 3 p.m.
