Box Score
MONTCLAIR, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team defeated Montclair State University, 88-77 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
The Profs improve to 11-5 overall and 5-5 in the conference. The Red Hawks have a 5-11 record with a 2-8 NJAC mark.
Rowan was led by forward Brendan Cox (sr. Lindenwold, NJ/Highland Reg.) with 32 points and 18 rebounds. Both were career-highs. Guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) scored 15 points. Guard Jason Rosenberg (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) totaled 10 points, 11 assists and nine boards. Guard Rich McNamara (jr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) chipped in with 10 points. Guard Daniel Waynick (so. Twin Rivers, NJ/Hightstown) added six points off the bench.
For Montclair State, guard Ken Rubenstein (sr. South Orange, NJ/Columbia) compiled 23 points. Forward Chris Torres (so. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) registered 15 points and eight rebounds. Guard Kris Bergstol (jr. New City, NY/Clarkstown S.) contributed with 10 points and five assists. Guard James D’Angelo (so. Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) dished eight assists. Forward Ordel Gordon (jr. Hackettstown, NJ/Warren Hills) and guard Brandon Sessoms (sr. Newark, NJ/Weequahic) tallied eight points apiece.
The Red Hawks were ahead, 3-2 at 17:43 after a free throw by Rubenstein. The Profs went on a 9-2 run for an 11-5 lead at 15:45. Cox scored four points, guard Fred Battee (sr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) hit a three-pointer and Rosenberg had a layup. Rubenstein made two foul shots (10:56) and Montclair State trailed by six (18-12). Rowan had a 13-2 surge for a 17 point advantage (31-14) with 7:56 on the clock. Cox collected six points, guard Matt Whitworth (jr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) had a three and center Dan Brogan (fr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) and White each had a basket.
Montclair State fought back with a 12-4 spurt to cut the deficit to nine (35-26) at 4:23. Bergstol and Sessoms both had five points, while Torres added two. Rubenstein’s foul shot with 42 seconds remaining made the score, 41-32. Guard Phil Jackson (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) had a layup with 34 seconds left to give Rowan a 43-32 halftime lead. Cox posted 18 points and 10 boards in the first period.
The Profs were up, 50-39 after McNamara’s layup at 17:20 in the second stanza. The Red Hawks recorded the next seven points to pull within four (50-46) at 15:32. Rubenstein made a three-pointer and Goldson and Torres each had a basket.
Rowan answered with a 6-0 surge to push the advantage to 10 (56-46) at 13:18. Cox registered four points and McNamara had two. Cox had a layup at 11:28 and Montclair State trailed by 11 (62-51).
The Red Hawks scored eight consecutive points to come within three (62-59) with 9:17 left to play. Forward Shakill Copeland’s (fr. Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) had a basket at 8:19 (64-61). Rowan went on an 8-0 run to take an 11 point lead (72-61) at 6:23. McNamara’s foul shot with 59 seconds remaining extended the advantage to 12 (86-74). Torres connected on a three-pointer (:51) but Cox ended the scoring with a layup (:45). Cox had 14 points and eight rebounds in the second half, while White added 11 points. Rubenstein collected 19 points for Montclair State.
Rowan hosts New Jersey City University in a NJAC game on Saturday, January 19 at 1 p.m.
