Berkeley 71, Penn State Brandywine 65
Delaware Valley - Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team defeated Delaware Valley College, 92-80 in the Heritage’s Dairy Stores Classic championship on Saturday.
Rowan improves to 7-2 overall, while Delaware Valley has a 5-4 record. Earlier on Saturday, Berkeley College (3-7) beat Penn State Brandywine (0-8), 71-65 in the consolation game. In the first round on Friday, Rowan had an 82-60 victory over Berkeley, while Delaware Valley topped Penn State Brandywine, 79-44.
The Profs had six players score in double-figures. Forward Tyson Hartnett (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Center Derek Piccini (sr. Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Mem.) and forward Steve Secula (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Lenape) posted 15 points apiece. Secula also grabbed eight boards. Guards Sean Hughes (jr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) and Allen Pritchett (sr. Camden, NJ/Woodbury) both scored 14 points, while guard Laud Anderson (jr. N. Brunswick, NJ/N. Brunswick Twp.) had 10. Hughes and Pritchett each had a career-high with 10 and nine assists respectively. Secula, Hughes and Pritchett earned All-Tournament Team honors.
For the Aggies, guard James Jones (jr. Philadelphia, PA/Edward Bok Tech) recorded a game-high 30 points, including six three-pointers. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Forward Chris Ellis (jr. Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) contributed with 13 points and six rebounds. Guard Chris Mayo (so. Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) added 12 points off the bench. Center Jeremy Beckett (fr. Reading, PA/Holy Name) totaled seven points and eight boards.
Rowan was ahead, 40-29 at the intermission. In the second half, Anderson’s layup increased the lead to 17 points (48-31) at 17:06. Delaware Valley followed with a 9-0 run to come within eight (48-40) with 13:47 remaining. Beckett scored four points, Mayo hit a three-pointer and Ellis had a layup. The Profs were up by 10 (54-44) following a layup by Hartnett at 11:59. Ellis sunk two free throws (11:49) and Beckett had a layup (11:08) to bring the Aggies within six (56-48). Piccini had a bucket at 10:41 and Delaware Valley guard Jason Goldheimer (jr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) nailed a three-pointer (10:19) to cut the lead to five (56-51).
Jones’ layup with 6:58 on the clock cut the deficit to three points (66-63). Hartnett made two straight baskets to give Rowan a seven point advantage (70-63) with 5:43 left to play. Ellis recorded a three-pointer at 4:59 to make the score, 72-68. The Profs reeled off eight consecutive points to pull away, 80-68 at 3:34. Anderson and Piccini each had four points in the run. The closest the Aggies came was six points (86-80) after a three-pointer by James (1:15). Rowan made four of four free throws (1:06 and 00:23) down the stretch. Anderson tacked on a layup at the two second mark. Jones scored 22 points in the second period, while Ellis had 11. Hartnett, Hughes and Anderson each had 10 for the Profs.
In the first half, Rowan led 8-6 at 15:59. The Profs had a 7-0 surge to go up, 13-6 at 14:06. Secula had five of the seven points. Rowan was ahead 23-17 at 8:51. Pritchett hit two straight three-pointers at 8:38 and 7:52 for a 10 point advantage (29-19). After a jumper (6:06) and a free throw (5:33) by Piccini, the Profs were leading by 13 (32-19). Pritchett’s layup at 4:52 made the score, 34-21. The Aggies pulled within five after an 8-0 run over the next 2:50. Forward Jason Sofman (fr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) had five of the eight points. Hartnett sunk two free throws (1:36) and guard Gary Foster (so. Neptune, NJ/Neptune) had a jumper (1:01). Hartnett’s layup with seven seconds left put Rowan ahead, 40-29 at the break. Secula led all first half scorers with 11 points.
Rowan returns to action on Friday, December 18 at home against Neumann University at 8 p.m.
