Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men's basketball team came from behind in the final two minutes to defeat William Paterson University, 78-75 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
Guard Zach Frick (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) made two free throws to put the Pioneers ahead, 74-68 with 2:22 remaining. Forward
TJ Booth (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) converted two shots at the line (1:53) then another at the 1:51 mark to close the gap to three (74-71). Guard
Rob DePersia (so. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) forced a turnover and Booth made a layup to make it a one-point game with 1:36 on the clock.
Forward
Shawn Wilson (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) and guard Joseph Taylor (sr. Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) traded free throws and the score was 75-74 (0:33). Booth missed a layup but DePersia grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both shots to give the Profs the lead, 76-75 at the 21-second mark. Taylor was off the mark with a three-pointer, Wilson came down with the board and made a pair of shots at the stripe for the final points. Taylor's desperation heave at the buzzer fell short and Rowan celebrated the victory.
Wilson finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Forward
Gary Carthan (sr. Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Reg.) and Booth tallied 11 points apiece and Booth added six rebounds.
Rob DePersia contributed with nine points and guard
Nick DePersia (so. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) had eight. Guard
Josh Borrelli (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and forward Tomas Malmsjö (fr. Malmö, Sweden/Malmö Idrottsgymnasium) each chipped in with seven points.
Guard Galen Smith (sr. Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway Tech) led the Pioneers with a game-high 18 points. He also had seven rebounds. Guard Turell McClendon (sr. Newark, NJ/Piscataway Tech) registered 14 points and nine boards. Frick and Taylor poured in 12 and 10 points respectively. Taylor corralled eight rebounds.
The score was tied at five early in the opening half before Rowan went on a 12-2 run to lead 17-7 (15:32). Malmsjö and Wilson each scored five points and
Nick DePersia had a layup. The Profs went on a 13-2 surge to increase their advantage to 18 (38-20) at the 7:09 mark. Five different players scored in the stretch. William Paterson got back in the game with a 14-3 spurt to end the period and the score was 41-34. Smith had 11 of the 14 points.
In the second half, the Pioneers fought back to tie the score at 55 with 11:06 on the clock. Smith nailed a three at 10:16 to give William Paterson the lead, 58-57. Carthan's layup (8:33) put Rowan back ahead but Smith answered with two points (7:49) and the Pioneers were on top, 60-59. William Paterson held the advantage until the final sequence.
The Profs welcome Eastern University to Glassboro for a non-conference contest on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
