Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball defeated Valley Forge Christian College, 87-82 in the first round of the Heritage’s Dairy Store Classic on Friday night.
On Saturday, December 8, Rowan (5-1) will play Penn State Brandywine in the championship at 3 p.m. Valley Forge Christian (10-2) will face Widener University in the consolation game at 1 p.m. Earlier on Friday, Penn State Brandywine beat Widener, 74-73.
The Profs were led by forward Matt Byrnes (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) with 33 points. He was 11 for 23 from the floor, including four for 10 from beyond the three-point arc and seven for 10 from the foul line. Byrnes is now 22 points away from breaking Terrence Stewart’s school record of 1,628 career points (1992-96). In 84 games, Byrnes has totaled 1,607 points.
Guard Kevin Darby (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) totaled 17 points, six assists and five rebounds. Forward Dwayne Reevey (sr. Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) scored 10 points off the bench. Guard Dan Reddan (jr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) contributed with eight points and six boards, while guard Michael Farrow (fr. Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) had six points and eight rebounds.
For the Patriots, forward Nate Stoner posted a double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Kevin Wilson scored 20 points and forward Zachary Housand pulled down seven boards. Guard James Fulton added 10 points, while guard Justyn Mitchell had eight.
Rowan was ahead 39-38 at halftime. In the second period, Valley Forge Christian tied the game at 48 following a free throw by Mitchell at 17:07. Byrnes’ two foul shots at 14:56 put the Profs back up by six (56-50). Rowan was ahead by 11 (72-61) with 7:41 left to play. The Patriots went on a 14-3 run to tie the game (75-75) at 3:48. In the stretch, Stoner scored seven points, Wilson had five and guard Keith Watkins added two. Byrnes hit a three at 2:45 to give Rowan a five point advantage (80-75). Wilson’s three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining brought Valley Forge Christian within three (83-80). The Profs made four of six free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
In the first stanza, the Patriots jumped out to a 19-8 lead over the first 6:18. Wilson led Valley Forge Christian with five points. Rowan had a 19-4 scoring spurt to go up by four (27-23) at 6:53. Reevey recorded seven of the 19 points. The game was tied two times before Stoner hit a three-pointer at 2:05, making the score 34-31. Rowan cut the deficit to two points (38-36) following two free throws by Darby with 58 seconds left. Reddan nailed a three-pointer with 39 seconds remaining to lead 39-38 at the intermission.
Byrnes was Rowan’s leading scorer in the first half with 12 points. Reevey followed with eight points, while Reddan had seven points and six rebounds. For the Patriots, Stoner recorded 12 points and five boards, while Wilson had 10 points.
