Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team had a 64-60 victory over Kean University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
The Profs improve to 6-7 overall and 1-2 in the conference. The Cougars have a 2-11 record with a 1-2 NJAC mark. Rowan was led by guard Kendall White (jr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) with 16 points and seven rebounds. Guard Phil Jackson (so. Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and forward Jason Sofman (so. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) added 11 points apiece. Guard Rich McNamara (so. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) and forward Steve Secula (sr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) each scored eight points. Guard Jason Rosenberg (so. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) dished seven assists.
For Kean, guard Michael Burton (so. Irvington, NJ/South Plainfield) registered 13 points. Forward Leigh Keenan (sr. Bethlehem, NJ/Northampton) chipped in with 10 points off the bench. Guard Anthony Gibson (jr. Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Reg.) posted eight points. Forward Kyle Latorre (so. Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) added six points and a game-high 10 boards.
The Cougars were ahead, 33-29 at halftime. Rowan opened the second period with an 8-0 run to take a 37-33 lead at 17:42. Sofman recorded six points and White had two. Rowan was up by four (42-38) after a three-point play by Sofman at 16:20. Guard Kenny Pace (so. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) made a jumper (15:30) and Latorre had a tip-in (14:30) to tie the game at 42. Kean lead, 47-42 at 10:43. The Profs had an 15-2 surge to pull away, 57-49 at 6:47. Jackson compiled six of the 15 points.
White’s two foul shots at 5:07 made the score, 59-51. Kean scored the next eight points to tie the game at 59 with 1:49 remaining. Guard Andrew Kirey (sr. Millville, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) made a three-pointer (4:54), Latorre had a free throw (4:04) and a basket (3:34) and Gibson nailed two foul shots (1:49). McNamara hit a jumper at the 38 second mark for a two point advantage (61-59). White added a foul shot with 19 seconds on the clock. Latorre sunk the first of two free throws (:12) to cut the deficit to two (62-60). White’s two foul shots with 10 seconds left sealed the win. White and Sofman both scored nine points in the second half.
Kean started the game with an 11-3 run over the first 4:31. Pace scored five points, Gibson had four and Burton added two. Rowan came within three (11-8) after a layup by center Tom Paterno (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) at 15:06 and a three-point play by center Dee Benson (so. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) at 14:41. Keenan made a jumper (10:26) for a five point lead (21-16). Secula (10:08) and McNamara (9:48) had back-to-back baskets and the Profs trailed by one (21-20).
Keenan added a layup at 9:01 for a three point advantage (23-20). White had a jumper (8:28) and Jackson converted a three-pointer (7:45) to put Rowan on top, 25-23. Keenan answered with a jumper at 6:39 to tie the game at 25. The scored was 27-27 after Jackson’s tip-in at 4:31. Gibson (1:41) and Keenan (1:03) each had a basket to go ahead, 31-27. Secula made a layup at the 49 second mark. Burton nailed a jump shot with 24 seconds left to make the score, 33-29 at the intermission. Burton and Keenan both scored eight points for the Cougars. Secula had eight points off the bench for the Profs.
Rowan hosts Ramapo College in a NJAC game on Saturday, January 7 at 1 p.m.
