Box Score ASTON, PA – The Rowan University men's basketball team had a season-opening 113-96 loss at non-conference opponent Neumann University on Tuesday.
It was the first game of the year for both teams. Neumann shot 53 percent from the field. Forward James Butler (sr. Philadelphia, PA/Vaux) totaled 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Knights. Guard DeShawn Lowman (sr. Wilmington, DE/Concord) posted 27 points and 10 boards while forward Darian Barnes (sr. Yeadon, PA/Penn Wood) tallied 14 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Billy Cassidy (jr. Primos, PA/Friends Central) chipped in with 16 points and guard Tyaire Hudson (jr. Wilmington, DE/Hodgson Vo-Tech) added 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Rowan guards Nick and
Rob DePersia (so. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) scored 21 and 20 points respectively.
Rob DePersia also had six assists. Forward
Shawn Wilson (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) recorded 19 points and eight rebounds. Guard
Josh Borrelli (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) contributed with 12 points.
Neumann jumped out to a 4-0 lead but Rowan responded with nine straight points.
Nick DePersia scored five and Wilson tallied four. The Knights then went on a 19-6 run to go ahead 23-15 with 12:25 left in the half. Six different players registered points in the stretch. The Profs recovered to notch 11 straight points and cut the deficit to three (26-23). Neumann had another hot streak, recording 18 of the next 26 on 8-for-11 shooting for a seven-point advantage (41-34) with 6:04 on the clock. Rowan came within one (45-44) with 3:22 remaining but Neumann took a 55-50 lead into halftime. Lowman and
Nick DePersia produced 14 points apiece.
The Profs began the second half with an 11-3 run to take a 61-58 advantage (17:50). However, the Knights took over the game for good with a 22-5 surge over the next 5:30. Six different players scored in the stretch. The closest Rowan got the rest of the way was six (84-78) with 10:06 to go but Neumann followed with six straight to go ahead by 12.
Rowan plays Farmingdale State College in the Widener Tip-Off for Autism Awareness on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m.
