Box Score
ASTON, PA – The Rowan University men’s basketball team had a 71-67 victory over Neumann University in a nonconference game on Thursday night.
The Profs improve to 10-2, while the Knights have a 3-7 record. Guard Jason Rosenberg (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) led Rowan with a career-high 25 points. Guard Phil Jackson (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) followed with 14 points. Forward Daniel Waynick (so. Twin Rivers, NJ/Hightstown) compiled career bests with 13 points and nine rebounds. Forward Brendan Cox (sr. Lindenwold, NJ/Highland Reg.) tallied eight points and five boards.
For Neumann, guard Rich Whitten (jr. Yonkers, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) totaled 23 points. Guard Reggie Coleman (jr. Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) registered 14 points and nine rebounds. Forward TaVaune Griffin (fr. Chester, PA/Chester) posted 13 points and a game-high 12 boards. Guard Mel Weldon (so. Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) grabbed 10 rebounds. Guard Terrance Clark (sr. Middletown, DE/Middletown) contributed with eight points and five assists.
Rowan started the game with a 9-2 run over the first 5:05. Forward Matt Whitworth (jr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) hit a three-pointer, while guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.), Cox and Rosenberg each had a basket. Coleman made a three (14:23) and Clark followed with a layup (13:17) to cut the deficit to two (9-7). Rosenberg had a layup (13:01) and a jumper (12:22) for a six point lead (13-7). The Profs were on top, 14-10 at 9:04. The Knights had an 8-0 surge for a four point advantage (18-14) at 6:44. Griffin scored five of the eight points.
Waynick’s three-point play at 6:11 brought Rowan within one (18-17). Rosenberg followed with a layup (6:00) and two foul shots (5:28) and the Profs pulled ahead, 21-18. At 2:52, Rosenberg hit a three-pointer and the score was 27-20. With 17 seconds left, Coleman had a three and Neumann trailed by two (31-29). Rosenberg’s three-pointer as time expired made the score, 34-29 at the intermission. He posted 18 points in the first half.
At 18:25 in the second period, Rowan had a three point lead (38-35) after a layup by Jackson. Neumann had eight straight points to go ahead, 43-38 at 15:34. Griffin had a tip-in and Whitten followed with two three-pointers. Griffin’s basket at 12:49 extended the advantage to six (48-42). The Profs had a 10-0 spurt to go up by four (52-48) at 8:37. Jackson recorded six points and Waynick had four. With 6:16 on the clock, Whitten connected on a three-pointer and the Knights were down by one (54-53).
Rowan pulled away (62-55) with an 8-2 run that ended at 3:39. Rosenberg collected four points, while Jackson and Waynick had two apiece. Jackson’s layup at 2:01 made the score, 64-57. Coleman (1:21) and Whitten (:52) each sunk two free throws to cut the deficit to three (64-61). The Profs had the next five points. Whitworth (:42) and Waynick (:30) both made two foul shots and Cox had one (:14). Whitten had a layup with nine seconds remaining but Jackson answered with a foul shot (:08). Whitten converted one of two free throws (:06) and Coleman hit a three-pointer (:02) to come within three (70-67). Rosenberg’s foul shot with one second remaining ended the game.
Rowan returns to action after the holidays. The Profs host conference opponent Ramapo College on Saturday, January 5 at 1 p.m.
