Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Five players scored in double figures for the Rowan University men’s basketball team in an 84-64 win over Immaculata University on Wednesday night. It was the season opener for both teams.
Guard Sean Hughes (sr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) led the Profs with 15 points and seven rebounds. Guards Akeem Johnson (jr. Gouldtown, NJ/Bridgeton) and Kendall White (so. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) each contributed with 13 points. Guard Roger Loatman (jr. Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) and forward Steve Secula (jr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) added 12 and 10 points respectively. Guard Jason Rosenberg (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and Hughes dished five assists apiece.
For Immaculata, guard Nelson Torres (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) scored 13 points and grabbed five boards. Guard Rob Siter (jr. Yeadon, PA/Bonner) registered 11 points and four steals. Guard Darnell Malabet (jr. Exton, PA/Oak Hill Academy) and guard/forward Todd Stokley (so. Conshohocken, PA/LaSalle) both came off the bench for nine points. Forward Brandon Smith (fr. Philadelphia, PA/Central) tallied six points and six rebounds.
Rowan started the second half with a nine point lead (44-35). In 5:02, the Profs had an 8-3 to run for a 14 point advantage (52-38). Forward Tim Matchett (sr. Pitman, NJ/Pitman) contributed with four points while Secula and White each had two. Torres’ two foul shots at 13:40 cut the deficit to 12 points (52-40) which was the closest the Might Macs came for the remainder of the game. Rowan followed with eight straight points that made the score 60-40 at 11:42. Secula made three baskets while Loatman had one. After two free throws by Siter, Immaculata trailed 64-45 with 10:06 remaining.
The Profs went up by 25 points (70-45) after a 6-0 run that ended at 8:41. White contributed with three of the six points. Another six point surge put Rowan ahead 76-47 at 5:53. Loatman had two layups and White made one. The Profs’ biggest lead of the game was 32 points (82-50) after a basket by Loatman with 3:12 left. Secula totaled 10 second half points and Loatman followed with eight.
The score was tied four times in the first half. The last one (16-16) came at 11:03 when center Chris Gebhart (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) had a layup for the Profs. The Mighty Macs went up by two (18-16) after Stokley’s jumper at 10:41. Hughes nailed a three-pointer (9:37) for a one point advantage (19-18). Immaculata had its last lead (20-19) when Smith made a layup. Rowan followed with six straight points to go up 25-20 with 7:26 remaining. Loatman contributed with three points while Gebhart and Hughes added two and one point respectively.
At 5:30, guard Raheem Roher (fr. Philadelphia, PA/Communication Technology) nailed a three and the Mighty Macs trailed by one point (29-28). Hughes answered with two consecutive three-pointers that made the score 35-28 at the 4:44 mark. Immaculata pulled within three points (37-34) with a layup by Smith. The Profs closed the period with a 7-1 run for a nine point advantage (44-35) at the intermission. White had two foul shots, Johnson made a layup and Hughes hit a three. Hughes scored 15 points in the first period and Johnson followed with 11. Forward Kendall Peters (so. Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) registered eight points for Immaculata.
On Friday, Rowan will play Wentworth Institute of Technology at 8 p.m. in the Widener University Tip-Off Classic. Prior, Adrian College faces Widener at 6 p.m. The consolation and championship are at 1 and 3 p.m. respectively on Saturday.
