Box Score
EWING, NJ – Guard Sean Hughes scored a career-high 21 points to lead Rowan University to an 84-64 win at The College of New Jersey in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener.
Hughes (jr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) totaled six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Forward Steve Secula (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) contributed with 11 points. Guards Allen Pritchett (sr. Camden, NJ/Woodbury) and Kendall White (fr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) each had 10 points coming off the bench. White also grabbed seven boards.
The Profs improve to 4-2 overall (1-0 NJAC) while the Lions have a 4-3 record (0-1 NJAC). For TCNJ, forward Steven Siracusa (jr. New Providence, NJ/New Providence) scored 12 points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds. Guard Peter Kelly (so. Mercerville, NJ/Nottingham) added 11 points and guard Will Manhart (sr. Hillsborough, NJ/Immaculata) followed with 10.
Rowan had the lead the entire game. In the first half, the Profs were ahead by 10 points (16-6) in the first 6:59. Secula scored six points and Hughes had five. Kelly’s three-pointer at 9:11 cut the deficit to two (20-18). White’s foul shot made the score 26-18 at 6:06. Rowan had a six point lead (29-23) with 4:23 left. The Profs ended the period with a 12-3 run for a 15 point advantage (41-26) at the break. Forward Matt DeSouza (so. Margate, NJ/Holy Spirit) led the way with five points, Pritchett scored three while Secula and Hughes had two apiece. Pritchett finished the period with 10 points.
In the second half, Rowan increased its lead to 19 points (48-29) with a 7-3 run that ended with a jumper by Hughes at 16:39. Siracusa hit a jumper (15:02) and the Lions trailed 50-37. White made a three-point play at 13:32 that made the score 57-39. TCNJ pulled within 10 points (61-51) after Siracusa’s layup with 9:07 on the clock. It was the closest the Lions came for the remainder of the game. Rowan went back up by 18 points (73-55) after Hughes’ basket at 4:46. Hughes hit a jumper with 1:01 left that made the score 84-62. He compiled 14 points in the last stanza.
Next week, Rowan is home against Kean University on Wednesday, December 9 at 7 p.m.
