Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team had an 85-77 victory over Valley Forge Christian College in a nonconference game on Monday night.
The Profs are 15-5 overall, while the Patriots have a 12-8 record. Guard Fred Battee (sr. West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) led the way with a career-high 21 points, including five three-pointers. Guard Rich McNamara (jr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) produced 20 points and a season best 12 rebounds. Guard Phil Jackson (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) compiled 16 points. Center Dee Benson (sr. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) registered nine points and five boards. Guard Jason Rosenberg (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) tallied eight points, 13 assists and four steals.
For Valley Forge Christian, guard Dominic Cain (fr. Willingboro, NJ/Life Center Academy) posted 20 points. Guard Kevin Mack (so. Philadelphia, PA) collected 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Guard Jonathan Dukes (fr. Lincoln, DE/Campe Henlopen) chipped in with 13 points, six boards and four steals. Guard Lance Harris (jr. Baltimore, MD/Grace Bible Baptist Christian) scored 11 points, while guards Jean LeBlanc (so. Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) and Domenick Bond (fr. Elkton, MD/Elkton Christian) each had nine.
The game was tied four times in the first half with the final one (26-26) coming at 6:01 after a three-pointer by Battee. Valley Forge Christian went up 30-26 following a layup by Cain (5:48) and two foul shots by Mack (5:27). Rowan scored the next eight points for a 34-30 advantage. McNamara nailed a three (5:11), Jackson had a layup (4:40) and Battee sunk a three-pointer (4:19). With eight seconds remaining, center Dan Brogan’s (fr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) basket extended the lead to five (40-35). LeBlanc connected on a three-pointer as time expired to bring the Patriots within two (40-38) at the intermission. Battee registered 18 points in the first period and Cain had 10.
Rowan was on top, 45-40 at 19:12 in the second stanza. Back-to-back baskets by Dukes (18:41) and Cain (17:58) cut the deficit to one (45-44). Valley Forge Christian was down by one (54-53) after a layup by Mack at 14:04. Rowan went on a 6-0 run to make the score, 60-53 at 12:04. Benson had three of the six points. Cain made a jump shot (11:34), Dukes converted a three-point play (10:54) and followed with a layup (10:23) to tie the game at 60. Jackson answered with a three at 9:44.
Harris connected on two free throws (9:32) and LeBlanc completed a three-point play (9:14) to give the Patriots a two-point lead (65-63). Jackson’s dunk at 8:04 tied the score (65-65). Harris had two foul shots at 7:56 and Valley Forge Christina was up by two (67-65).
Rowan went on an 11-0 run (76-67) that ended at 6:23. Guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) and McNamara both recorded five points and Rosenberg had one. With 3:06 left to play, Rosenberg’s layup extended the advantage to 10 (83-73). Cain (2:49) and Harris (1:13) each had a jumper and the Patriots trailed by six (83-77). Rosenberg sank two free throws with 40 seconds remaining to end the scoring. McNamara compiled 15 points in the second half.
Rowan hosts conference opponent Kean University on Wednesday, January 30 at 8 p.m.
