Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Ramapo College had five players score in double digits en route to a 92-84 victory over Rowan University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament semifinals on Wednesday.
The second seed from the North Division, Ramapo (20-7) travels to the number one seed from the North, New Jersey City University on Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m. for the NJAC conference final. New Jersey City defeated Rutgers-Newark, 79-69 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
Ramapo guard Antoine Pryor (sr. Elizabeth, NJ/Saint Patrick) led the way with 24 points, including seven three-pointers. Forward Assad Shaakir (jr. Newark, NJ/Saint Patrick) recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Center Omar Alston (jr. Carteret, NJ/Carteret) totaled 19 points and a game-high 17 boards. Forward Tim Wesley (so. Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) and guard Ahmad Mosby (jr. Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony) added 15 and 10 points respectively.
For Rowan (20-6), guard Thomas Baker (sr. Millville, NJ/Millville) led all scorers with 39 points. Baker made 14 of 32 field goals, two of eight three-pointers and nine of 10 free throws. Guard Tim Bowser (sr. Millville, NJ/Millville) had 12 points. Guard Dan Reddan (so. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) contributed with nine points, while forwards Dwayne Reevey (jr. Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) and Matt Byrnes (jr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) had eight points apiece.
Ramapo had a 47-37 halftime advantage. Rowan cut the deficit to one point (49-48) in the first two minutes of the second period. Baker had eight of the Profs’ 10 points. The Roadrunners had a 55-52 lead following a layup by Shaakir at 16:15. Rowan scored eight straight points to go ahead 60-55 at 13:21. Baker scored six points in the stretch. Ramapo fought back with a 14-2 run to go up 69-62 with 10:38 remaining. Pryor had five points, while Wesley added four. Ramapo led 73-66 at 8:59 after a layup by Wesley. Rowan scored the next 10 points for a 76-73 advantage at 6:10. Baker contributed six points and Byrnes had four. The Profs were up by one point (80-79) after two free throws by Reddan at 3:57. The Roadrunners recorded the next nine points to go ahead, 89-80 with 37 seconds left. Alston had eight of the 10 points in the run. The closest Rowan would come was six points (89-83) following a three-pointer by Reddan with 26 seconds on the clock.
Ramapo started the game with an 8-2 run over the first three minutes. Alston and Pryor each had three points. Rowan narrowed the lead to one point (8-7) after a dunk by Baker at 15:13. The Roadrunners built up a 14 point advantage (25-11) over the next six minutes. The Profs fought back, cutting the deficit to three points (38-35) with 2:28 remaining. Ramapo closed out the half by scoring nine of the final 11 points to go ahead 47-37 at intermission. Pryor nailed two three-pointers in the stretch. In the first half, Pryor was six of eight from the floor, including six of six from beyond the arc, for 19 points. Baker and Bowser each had 12 points for the Profs.
Rowan, ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region, will have to wait until Sunday night to see if it receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
