Box Score MONTCLAIR, NJ  – The Rowan University men's basketball team defeated Montclair State University, 83-76 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
 
Forward Chris Gross (sr. Cranford, NJ/Roselle Catholic) led the way with a career high 22 points and five rebounds.  Guard Nick DePersia (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) produced 19 points and five assists.  Forward Shawn Wilson (jr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) totaled 13 points and seven boards.  Center Dan Brogan (sr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds. 
 
The Profs are 5-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference.  The Red Hawks have a 5-7 record with a 2-4 NJAC mark.   
 
For Montclair State, guard Shaun Russell (jr. Brooklyn, NY/Willingboro (NJ)) scored 19 points. Guard Erick Loften-Harris (jr. Brooklyn, NY/Union) registered 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists.  Guard/forward Aaron Williams (sr. West Orange, NJ/Jonathan Dayton) added 11 points and center Jaleel Christmon (jr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) followed with eight. 
 
In the second stanza, DePersia's layup at 15:51 gave Rowan an 18-point lead (57-39).  The Red Hawks scored seven points and trailed 57-46 at 14:55.  Russell contributed with five points and Loften-Harris had two.  Wilson's foul shot (12:37) made the score 62-50.  Montclair State then recorded 10 unanswered points (62-60) with 9:04 on the clock.  Russell collected five of the 10 points.  Two free throws by Gross (8:45) and a jumper from forward TJ Booth (so. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) (8:12) put the Profs ahead by six (66-60). 
 
The Red Hawks pulled within one point (67-66) after Russell (6:47) and Ransom (5:40) both made layups.  Guard Rob DePersia (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) hit a jump shot (3:34) and Rowan was up 71-66.  Montclair State came within one point two more times, 71-70 at 3:05 and 73-72 at 2:11 but could not take the lead.  Gross had a layup (75-72) with 1:50 left and Rowan's final eight points came at the line.               
 
Rowan trailed 6-4 at 17:22 in the first half.  After a 17-5 run, the Profs were ahead 21-11 with 11:08 remaining.  Wilson produced seven points, Gross followed with six and Nick DePersia had four.  Gross scored with a dunk (10:14), guard Kris O'Connor (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Paul VI) hit a three (8:01) and Booth sank a jumper (7:13).  The Profs had a 14-point advantage (28-14).
 
Brogan (3:14) and Wilson (2:49) made back-to-back layups to lead 36-21.  Williams nailed a three-pointer (2:04) and the Red Hawks were down 36-27.  The Profs ended the period with a 9-4 spurt and they were ahead 45-31 at the break.  Brogan, forward Gary Carthan (jr. Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Reg.) and Nick DePersia each contributed with a three.   
 
Next, Rowan hosts conference opponent Kean University on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.