Box Score
CHESTER, PA – The Rowan University men’s basketball team defeated host Widener University, 90-80 in the championship of the Widener Tip-Off Classic on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday in the consolation game, Adrian College topped Wentworth Institute of Technology, 54-43. In the first round Friday, Widener beat Adrian, 62-47 and Rowan had a 69-63 victory over Wentworth. Profs’ guard Roger Loatman (jr. Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Guard Sean Hughes (sr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Rowan improves to 3-0, while Widener has a 1-2 record. Loatman totaled 21 points and nine rebounds. Guard Akeem Johnson (jr. Gouldtown, NJ/Bridgeton) had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Hughes registered 15 points. Center Chris Gebhart (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) and guard Rich McNamara (fr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) contributed with nine and eight points respectively. Guard Jason Rosenberg (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) dished nine assists.
For the Pride, guard Chris McDevitt (sr. Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks W.) registered 16 points. Center Jack Brennan (jr. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) followed with 13 points and nine boards. Guard BJ Smith (jr. Baltimore, MD/Overlea) and forward Onyi Ezeala (jr. Piscataway, NJ/Timothy Christian) had 12 points apiece. Forward Bob Makor (fr. Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) contributed with 10 points. Guard Woody Redding (fr. Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) accumulated seven assists.
Rowan was ahead 53-32 at halftime. Johnson’s jumper at 15:01 in the second period made the score, 64-39. Ezeala had five straight points to come within 20 (64-44) at 14:35. Two free throws by McNamara at 12:06 increased the lead to 23 (70-47). The Pride scored the next nine points to cut the deficit to 14 (70-56) at 11:11. McDevitt had five of the nine points. The Profs were up, 76-59 at 10:09 following two foul shots by guard Kendall White (so. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.). Widener went on an 8-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer by McDevitt at 6:59.
Gebhart’s two free throws at 5:38 pushed the advantage to 10 (80-70). Redding (5:06) and McDevitt (4:08) had back-to-back baskets to trail by six (80-74). Rowan was ahead, 84-78 at 1:49. Makor sunk two foul shots with 32 seconds remaining, making the score 84-80. The Profs closed out the game with a 6-0 surge. Guard Laud Anderson (sr. North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick Twp.) tallied five points and Hughes had one.
The Profs opened the game with an 8-0 run over the first 2:50. Rosenburg scored four points, while forward Steve Secula (jr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) and Hughes each had two. Brennan’s layup at 16:49 cut the deficit to six (8-2). Rowan recorded the next 12 points for a 17 point lead (19-2). Five different players scored in the run. Loatman’s three-pointer at 9:32 extended the advantage to 25 (30-5). The Profs were ahead, 39-13 after a free throw by Hughes at 7:49. Smith nailed two three pointers at 7:24 and 6:37 and a free throw at 5:26 to pull within 19 (39-20). The score was 48-31 after a layup by Brennan at 1:35. McNamara and Hughes hit jumpers at 1:24 and 1:03 respectively and Loatman followed with a foul shot at the five second mark. Ezeala’s free throw with one second on the clock made the score, 53-32.
Rowan travels to Alvernia University on Tuesday, November 23 at 7 p.m.
