Box Score

EWING, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team overcame a 20 point halftime deficit to defeat The College of New Jersey, 72-69 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.

TCNJ was ahead, 42-22 at the intermission. Lions’ forward Dan Bucher’s (jr. New Providence, NJ/New Providence) jumper at 17:41 in the second period made the score, 47-27. Rowan went on an 11-2 run to pull within 11 (49-38) at 15:04. Guard Roger Loatman (jr. Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) tallied four points, guard Sean Hughes (sr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) hit a three-pointer and forward Tom Paterno (jr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) and guard Kendall White (so. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) had one basket apiece. Guard Albert Matlock’s (jr. Trenton, NJ/Solebury Prep) two foul shots at 6:48 extended the Lions’ lead to 15 (66-51).

The Profs had the next 13 points to come within two (66-64) with 3:14 on the clock. Loatman scored nine of the 13 points. After a three-pointer by TCNJ guard Donovan Smalls (so. Union, NJ/Union) at 3:02 (69-64), Rowan closed out the game with eight straight points. Guard Akeem Johnson (jr. Gouldtown, NJ/Bridgeton) hit a jumper (2:43) and White followed with a layup (2:12) to pull the Profs within one (69-68). Guard Jason Rosenberg’s (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) free throw at 1:24 tied the game at 69. Loatman added a basket at 1:17 and forward Rich McNamara (fr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) sunk a foul shot with 17 second left to end the scoring. Loatman tallied 25 points in the second half.

Rowan improves to 12-13 overall and 5-8 in the conference. The Profs are the South Division’s third seed in the NJAC Championship. Rowan travels to New Jersey City University, the second seed from the North Division, on Saturday, February 19 at 4 p.m. TCNJ finishes the season with a 4-21 record and a 0-13 NJAC mark.

Loatman posted a career-high 32 points and had five steals. He made 10 of 12 field goals and 11 of 15 free throws. White totaled 12 points and eight rebounds. Rosenberg compiled 10 points, four assists and two steals. Hughes added six points and seven boards.

For the Lions, Smalls registered 21 points and four steals. Matlock followed with 17 points. Forward Steve Siracusa (sr. New Providence, NJ/New Providence) collected seven points and 12 boards. Bucher contributed with eight points.

At 14:55 in the first stanza, the game was tied at 9. The Lions had an 12-1 surge to go up by 11 (21-10) at 9:20. White had a jumper at 8:37 and the Profs trailed by eight (23-15). TCNJ outscored Rowan, 19-3 over the next 7:28 for a 24 point advantage (42-18) with 1:09 remaining. Smalls recorded 10 of the 19 points. Rosenberg made back-to-back layups at :56 and :17 to cut the deficit to 20 (42-22) at halftime.