Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team had a 74-52 victory over The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
The Profs improve to 17-6 overall and 10-6 in the conference. The Lions have a 5-18 record with a 3-13 NJAC mark.
Center Dee Benson (sr. Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) led the way with a season-high 17 points and nine rebounds. Guard Phil Jackson (jr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) posted a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 11 boards. Guards Jason Rosenberg (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and Fred Battee (sr. Westville, NJ/Deptford) contributed with 13 points apiece. Rosenberg dished nine assists. Guard Kendall White (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) registered eight points and eight rebounds. Guard Matt Whitworth (jr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) grabbed six boards.
For TCNJ, guard Matthew Rista (jr. Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony’s) totaled 16 points and five rebounds. Guard Emmanuel Matlock (so. Trenton, NJ/Solebury) added seven points and guard William Lester (sr. Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) had six. Forward Joe Kane (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross) tallied five points and six boards.
At 16:59 in the first period, the Lions were on top, 6-5 after two foul shots by forward Alex Fox (so. Washington, NJ/Westwood Reg.). Rowan went on an 11-0 run for a 10 point lead (16-6) at 12:54. Battee compiled five points, Jackson scored four and Benson had a layup. TCNJ answered with a 9-1 surge to cut the deficit to two (17-15) at 10:17. Matlock collected four points, Lester hit a three-pointer and Rista had a jumper. Rista nailed a three at 7:33 and the Lions trailed by one (21-20).
The Profs had a layup (6:52) by center Dan Brogan (fr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) and a three-pointer (6:24) by Rosenberg for a six point advantage (26-20). Guard Jayson Johnson’s (so. Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) two foul shots with 5:17 on the clock brought TCNJ within three (28-25). Rowan scored the next seven points to go up by 10 (35-25) at 4:24. The Lions fought back with an 11-0 spurt to take a 36-35 lead with 2:48 remaining. White tied the game (36-36) with a free throw (1:49). Johnson’s foul shot with 34 seconds left put TCNJ on top, 37-36 at the intermission. Rista led all scorers with 13 points in the first half.
Rowan opened the second stanza with a 14-4 run to go ahead by nine (50-41) at 13:20. Benson and Jackson each recorded four points. Matlock sunk two free throws at 10:36 and the Lions were down by eight (54-46). The Profs had 20 consecutive points over the next 8:02 to pull away by 28 (74-46). Benson collected eight of the 20 points. Kane made a three-pointer at 1:10. Matlock followed with a foul shot (:35) and Kane’s layup (:06) ended the scoring.
Rowan hosts NJAC opponent Rutgers-Newark in its final home game of the regular season on Saturday, February 9 at 8 p.m.
