Box Score
EWING, NJ – Forward Matt Byrnes scored 18 points to lead the Rowan University men’s basketball team to a 65-62 road win over The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday.
Byrnes (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) made six of 14 field goals, two of five three-pointers and four of four free throws. Guard Aaron Spellman (jr. Pine Hill, NJ/St. Joseph’s (Hammonton)) finished with 11 points and guard Michael Farrow (fr. Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) had 10. Forward Rahim Shiver (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) totaled eight points and seven rebounds.
Rowan has a 17-7 record and a 6-6 conference mark. TCNJ is 6-18 overall and 2-10 in the NJAC. For the Lions, forward Mark Aziz (sr. Hackettstown, NJ/West Morris) recorded a game-high 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Guard Jeff Warner (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) chipped in with 10 points and nine boards.
TCNJ was ahead 37-34 at the intermission. In the second period, TCNJ went up 41-34 following two free throws by Aziz at 18:35. The Profs pulled within two points (41-39) after a foul shot by guard Kevin Darby (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) and two jumpers by Byrnes. Darby’s basket at 7:11 tied the game at 52. Aziz had a layup and a free throw at 5:06 to give the Lions a three point advantage (58-54). Rowan scored the next eight points to go up by four (62-58) with 2:59 left to play. Byrnes had four points, while forward Dwayne Reevey (sr. Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) and Farrow each had two. Spellman’s layup with 58 seconds remaining made the score 64-60. Aziz had a layup at 00:40 to cut the deficit to two (64-62). But, Rowan guard Billy Care (jr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) sunk a free throw with six seconds on the clock to seal the victory.
In the first half, TCNJ was up 14-11 after a layup and free throw by Aziz at 12:58. Rowan answered with a layup by guard Dan Reddan (jr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) (12:45), a tip-in by Shiver (12:03) and a three-pointer by Spellman (10:55) to go ahead 18-14. Guard Jeff Molinelli (jr. Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) nailed a jump shot at 4:22 to give the Lions a 29-27 advantage. Spellman’s three-pointer at 4:03 made the score 30-29. TCNJ closed out the half with an 8-4 surge to lead 37-34 at halftime. Forward Aaron Syvertsen (so. Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) had six of the eight points.
Rowan hosts Kean University on Saturday, February 23 at 3 p.m. its final game of the regular season.
