Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ –The College of New Jersey men's basketball team defeated host Rowan University, 73-70 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.

Forward Bobby Brackett's (so. Lawrence, NJ/Lawrence) layup put the Lions up 71-70 at the 50 second mark and guard Jayson Johnson (jr. Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) made two foul shots with 33 seconds left for the victory.  TCNJ improves to 5-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference.  Rowan has a 7-6 record with a 2-4 NJAC mark.

Brackett recorded his 12th double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds.  Johnson contributed with 17 points, seven boards and eight assists.  Guard Eric Klacik (fr. Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) registered 13 points.  

For the Profs, guard Kris O'Connor (so. Mount Laurel, NJ/Paul VI) scored a career-high 19 points off the bench.  Forward Jason Sofman (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) totaled 18 points and six boards.  Guard Matt Whitworth (sr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) added 11 points and guard Tim McDaniels (sr. Mount Holly, NJ/Lenape) had eight.

The score was tied nine times in the second half.  Sofman's layup and foul shot put the Profs ahead 62-61 with 7:55 remaining.  McDaniels followed with two free throws for a three-point advantage (64-61) at 7:22.  O'Connor sank a foul shot to lead 67-65 (3:17).  Johnson made a basket and tied the score at 67 with 2:17 on the clock.  It was the last tie of the contest.  O'Connor had another free throw (1:45) and Brackett answered with a dunk (1:28).  With 1:09 left, Sofman's layup put Rowan up by one point (70-69).  TCNJ led 73-70 at the 10 second mark and missed two free throws.  Rowan's three-pointer attempt with one second remaining failed.

TCNJ started the first half with a 20-8 run in 7:57.  Klacik led the way with 10 points and Brackett followed six.  Forward Skyelar Ettin's (jr. Princeton, NJ/Princeton) jumper at 9:55 made the score 25-13 for the Lions.  Rowan pulled within four points (25-21) with 6:51 remaining after an 8-0 spurt.  O'Connor contributed with four points and guard Phil Jackson (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) had three.  The Profs tied the score at 27 (5:04) with a foul shot by O'Connor.  Whitworth hit a three-pointer with 4:24 remaining and gave Rowan its first advantage of the game (30-27).  The score was tied three more times before the end of the period. Forward Jason Chalmers' (jr. Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) layup gave TCNJ the lead 38-36 at the break. 

Rowan travels to Ramapo College on Saturday, January 11 for a 3 p.m. NJAC contest.