Box Score GLASSBORO, NJ  – The Rowan University men's basketball team edged Montclair State University, 84-83 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
 
With 1:11 left in the second half, guard Shaun Russell (jr. Brooklyn, NY/Willingboro (NJ)) sank the second of two foul shots, which tied the score at 75 and the game went into overtime.  The Red Hawks were up 77-75 (4:22) in the extra period after two free throws by center Brian Crosby (jr. Belford, NJ/Middletown N.).  Guard Nick DePersia (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) had a layup and forward Chris Gross (sr. Cranford, NJ/Roselle Catholic) followed with a basket to go ahead 78-77 with 4:06 on the clock. 
 
Forward Brandon Channer (jr. Manchester, Jamaica/Strawberry Crest (FL)) gave Montclair State its last lead (79-78) with a jumper (3:52).  Center Dan Brogan (sr. Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) and Gross followed with back-to-back baskets for an 82-79 advantage with 2:57 left.  Center Jaleel Christmon (jr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) had a layup (1:18) to trail by one (82-81) at 1:18.  DePersia made a layup for an 84-81 advantage (0:53) and Russell scored the final basket (0:37). 
 
DePersia ended the game with 24 points, five rebounds and three assists.  Gross contributed with 12 points.  Forwards Shawn Wilson (jr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) and Gary Carthan (jr. Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Reg.) and guard Kris O'Connor (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Paul VI) each produced 10 points.  Brogan grabbed seven rebounds and blocked six shots.
 
Rowan improves to 9-14 overall and 6-10 in the conference.  Montclair State has an 11-12 record with a 7-9 NJAC mark. 
 
Channer recorded a double-double and game-highs with 25 points and 12 rebounds.  Russell added 13 points and eight boards while Crosby had 12 points and six rebounds.  Guard Erick Loften-Harris (jr. Brooklyn NY/Union) totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.  Christmon collected 10 rebounds and forward Jordan Roberson (fr. Union, NJ/Union) chipped in with nine. 

The score was tied four times and there were six lead changes in the second half.  Rowan was ahead 61-53 (11:23) after two DePersia foul shots.  The Red Hawks answered with a 9-0 run to go up 62-61 (9:01).  The team exchanged baskets then O'Connor nailed a three, which made the score 68-64 (8:05).  Loften-Harris tallied two straight buckets for a tied game (68-68).  The score was knotted at 72 with 5:09 on the clock.  Gross' layup and O'Connor's free throw put the Profs up by three (75-72).  Roberson had a basket (2:48) before Russell's tying free throw.
 
At the end of the first half, Rowan was ahead 46-36.  Channer made a layup at 12:42 and the Red Hawks trailed 13-9.  The Profs scored eight straight points to lead by 12 (21-9) with 10:46 remaining.  DePersia and Carthan each hit a three and guard Josh Borrelli (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) sank two foul shots.  Loften-Harris cut the deficit to five (27-22) with a three-pointer at 8:03.  Rowan was ahead 39-26 after guard Rob DePersia's (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) three with 4:07 left.  Channer produced a three-point play (2:25) and the Red Hawks pulled within six points (41-35).  Brogan scored with a layup at the 41 second mark to end the period with a 10 point lead (46-36).
 
Rowan has two games left in the regular season.  The men's basketball team travels to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, Feb. 13 for an 8 p.m. contest.  The Profs host William Paterson University on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.