Box Score

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Four players scored in double figures for the Rowan University men’s basketball team in a 79-70 conference win at Montclair State University on Saturday afternoon.

Guard Allen Pritchett (sr. Camden, NJ/Woodbury) led the Profs with 18 points, 14 came in the second half. Forward Tyson Hartnett (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) contributed with 16 points and seven rebounds. Forward Steve Secula (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) and guard Sean Hughes (jr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) added 14 and 13 points respectively. Hughes also dished eight assists.

Rowan is 11-4 overall and 3-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Montclair State has a 9-7 record with a 2-4 conference mark. For the Red Hawks, guard Rodney Freeney (jr. Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) came off the bench and scored a game-high 21 points. Forward Daniel McRae (fr. Plainfield, NJ/Rutgers-Prep) totaled 15 points and seven rebounds.

The Profs started the second half with an 11 point lead (38-27). Hughes’ layup at 16:16 made the score 49-36. Pritchett kept the advantage at 13 (53-40) with jumper (14:05). A layup by McRae cut the deficit to eight points (53-45) at 11:18. Pritchett hit a jumper at 9:31 and Rowan was ahead 61-47. Montclair State followed with a 9-2 run to trail by seven points (63-56) with 5:50 left. Freeney scored five of the nine points. A dunk by McRae at 3:52 pulled the Red Hawks within five points (65-60). Rowan led by four points (68-64) with 1:55 remaining then had six straight points to increase its lead to 10 (74-64) at the 57 second mark. Secula had a basket while Pritchett and Hartnett each hit two free throws. In the last 32 seconds, the Profs made five of six fouls shots to hold on for the win.

In the first period, Montclair State was ahead 12-7 at 15:39. Rowan took the lead (21-14) with a 14-2 run that ended at 10:33. Forward Derek Piccini (sr. Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Mem.) had three baskets in the run. The Red Hawks trailed by three (21-18) at 9:26. The Profs answered with a 14-2 surge in 6:12 for a 15 point advantage (35-20). Secula registered six points of the 14 points. At 1:45, Hartnett nailed two foul shots that made the score 38-25. McRae had the last basket (1:11) to end the half.

Next, Rowan hosts Penn State Abington on Monday, January 18 at 2 p.m.