Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Forward Davian Plunkett tipped in a missed shot with 1.7 seconds remaining to give Ramapo College a 62-60 win over Rowan University in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday.
Ramapo trailed by three points (60-57) with 55 seconds left in the second half. Guard Anthony LoRusso (so. Mahwah, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) converted a three-point play at the 44 second mark to tie the game at 60. With two seconds left, guard Andre Kenny (sr. Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) missed a jumper but Plunkett (so. Paterson, NJ/Paterson Kennedy) was there for the winning tip-in.
Ramapo (18-8), the third seed from the North Division, advances to the semifinals at the North’s top seed William Paterson University on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. In the other first round game on Saturday, the second seed from the North Rutgers-Newark hosts the South’s third seed Kean University at 7 p.m. The winner will travel to the number one seed from the South Richard Stockton College for the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The two semifinal winners will meet in the conference championship on Saturday, February 27 at the highest remaining seed. The NJAC Champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
LoRusso led the Roadrunners with 14 points. Kenny followed with 12 points and Plunkett had 11. Guard Garret Thiel (so. Middletown, NJ/Middletown S.) posted nine points, while forward LaQuan Peterkin (so. Paterson, NJ/John F. Kennedy) added eight points and seven rebounds.
For Rowan (16-9), forward Steve Secula (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) totaled 14 points and seven boards. Guard Gary Foster (so. Neptune, NJ/Neptune) contributed with 13 points off the bench. Forward Tyson Hartnett (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) posted nine points and guard Sean Hughes (jr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) had eight.
After the first period, Ramapo had a 25-22 lead. Peterkin’s layup at 17:27 increased the advantage to five (31-26). Rowan went on a 10-0 run to pull ahead 36-31 at 13:57. Hughes had four of the 10 points. After a basket by Plunkett (13:40) and two free throws (13:03) by forward Isaiah Lynch (sr. Linden, NJ/St. Mary’s) the Roadrunners trailed by one (36-35). Lynch’s two foul shots at 10:53 tied the game at 41.
The score was 43-43 at 10:14. Rowan scored five straight to go up, 48-43. Ramapo answered with a six point surge for a one point lead (49-48) with 6:19 remaining. Kenny had two baskets, while Lynch added a jumper. Rowan recorded the next eight points for a seven point advantage (56-49) with 3:38 on the clock. Guard Kendall White (fr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) scored four points, while Secula and Hughes each had two. Peterkin sunk two free throws (3:29), Plunkett made a jumper (3:06) and LoRusso nailed two foul shots (2:52) to pull within one (56-55). Rowan was ahead, 58-57 after a tip-in by Thiel at 1:06. Foster made two free throws (00:55) before LoRusso tied the game.
In the first period, Rowan built a 14-3 lead in 7:17. Secula scored six of the 14 points. Piccini’s layup at 10:33 put the Profs up, 18-6. Ramapo went on a 17-2 run that ended at 1:45 to go up 23-20. LoRusso led the way with nine points and Peterkin added four. Kenny’s layup with 43 seconds left made the score, 25-22 at the intermission.
