Box Score
WAYNE, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team lost at William Paterson University, 71-56 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers (17-9), the fourth seed, advance to the semifinals on Tuesday, February 19 at the top seed Ramapo College (21-4). The Profs (17-9) were seeded fifth in the conference tournament. In the other first round game, the third seed Richard Stockton College won 55-51 over the sixth seed New Jersey City University. The second seed Rutgers-Newark (19-6) hosts Richard Stockton (19-6) in the semifinals. The NJAC Championship is scheduled for Friday, February 22 at the highest remaining seed.
William Paterson had three players in double figures. Guard Rick DeStefano (sr. Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) led the way with 17 points. Forward Terik Bridgeman (fr. Harlem, NY/Nia Prep) recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Forward Lance Brown (sr. Teaneck, NJ/Paterson Catholic) contributed with 11 points and nine boards. Guard Jaques Conceicao (so. Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) totaled a game-high 11 rebounds and eight points. Guard Julio Rosario (sr. Perth Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) registered seven points, five boards and six assists.
For Rowan, guard Jason Rosenberg (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) scored 18 points and center Dee Benson (sr. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) followed with 15. Benson also grabbed nine rebounds. Guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) produced 13 points and seven boards. White finished his career with 1,062 points for 20th among the school’s all-time scorers.
William Paterson started the game with a 16-7 run in 6:38. Bridgeman and DeStefano each contributed with six points while Brown and Conceicao had two apiece. Conceicao (10:09) and forward Thomas Goubadia (sr. Union, NJ/Union) (9:26) had back-to-back baskets, which made the score 22-8. Guard Matt Whitworth (jr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) hit a three-pointer at 8:55 and the Profs were down by 11 (22-11). The Pioneers led 28-17 with 5:14 remaining. They ended the half with a 12-2 run for a 21 point advantage (40-19). Bridgeman was the scoring leader in the period with 12 points.
In the second stanza, William Paterson was up 45-23 at 17:22 with three foul shots by DeStefano. Rowan trailed by 15 (47-32) after a 9-2 spurt that ended with a three (14:33) by Rosenberg. At 9:15, Rosenberg nailed a three-pointer, which made the score 51-37. Conceicao (3:46) and Bridgeman (3:28) each sank two free throws, which increased the lead to 19 (64-45). White had two straight baskets (:45 and :24) and the Pioneers had a foul shot (:09) by forward Erik Brooks (jr. Saddle Brook, NJ/Paramus Catholic) for the final score. Rosenberg scored 15 points in the second half.
