Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team won 69-66 over Alvernia University in the home opener on Tuesday night.

The Profs (3-1) had five players that scored in double figures.  Center Dee Benson (so. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) totaled 16 points and guard Jason Rosenberg (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) followed with 14.  Rosenberg also dished five assists and collected four steals.  Forward Rich McNamara (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) and guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) each chipped in with 13 points.  Forward Jason Sofman (so. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) added 11 points. 

For the Crusaders (1-1), guard Stefan Thompson scored a game-high 23 points.  Forward Brian Parker and guard Josh Vargas registered 11 points apiece.  Parker also grabbed 18 rebounds, 14 were defensive boards.  Forward Brian Nerney and guard Chris Davis each produced four assists.

Rowan tied the score at 39 in the second period (16:19) with a jumper by Benson.  Alvernia went up by four (43-39) after Parker’s foul shot (15:58), Vargas’ layup (15:55) and Nerney’s free throw (14:51).  The Crusaders’ biggest lead was five points (46-41) when Thompson hit a three at 13:45.  The Profs came back and tied the score (47-47) on Benson’s basket at 10:57. 

The score was tied seven more times in a 10 minute span.  With 2:07 remaining, McNamara made a layup that knotted the score at 61.  White followed with a basket and foul shot (1:16) to go ahead 64-61.  Thompson hit a three-pointer (0:49) for the last tie of the game (64-64).  Benson answered with a layup (0:24) and White recorded two free throws (0:08) for a four point advantage (68-64).  Nerney’s dunk cut the deficit to two (68-66) with two ticks left on the clock.  At the one second mark, McNamara added a foul shot for the final score.     

In the first half, Rowan led by one point (12-11) at 14:23.  The Profs had back-to-back three-pointers by McNamara (13:33) and Sofman (12:42) for a seven point advantage (18-11).  Rosenberg nailed two foul shots at 8:52 that made the score 26-16.  He had a layup with 4:57 left to lead 30-22.  Alvernia followed with a 10-2 run for a tie at 32 with 1:27 left.  Vargas scored four points while Terrance Bridgers made the tying basket.  Davis’ jumper at the 51 second mark put the Crusaders up 34-32.  McNamara hit the first of two foul shots (0:28) and the Profs trailed by one (34-33) at the intermission.

After Thanksgiving, Rowan starts it conference schedule at The College of New Jersey on Wednesday, November 30 at 8 p.m.