GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men's basketball team defeated the conference's first place team New Jersey City University, 84-80 on Saturday.
 
With 4:32 left in the game, NJCU forward Sam Toney (jr. Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) hit a three-pointer and tied the game at 69.  Guard Rob DePersia (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) put Rowan up by five (74-69) with a three at 3:44.  For the Gothic Knights, guard Denzel Banks' layup (so. Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus) with 2:39 on the clock, made the score 76-73.   
 
Guards Nick DePersia (sr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) and DaRon Curry (sr. Deptford, NJ/Phelps School (PA)) each had a basket to lead by seven (80-73) at 1:15.  NJCU sank five straight foul shots to trail by two (80-78) at the 42 second mark.  Toney and Banks each contributed with two while guard Gralen Vereen (fr. Kearney, NJ/Kearney) had one.  Rowan ended the game with a 4-2 run for the victory.  All four points came at the line.  Guard Connor Dickerson (fr. Marlton, NJ/Moorestown) sank three and Nick DePersia chipped in with one.  
 
The Profs and the Gothic Knights are tied for the top spot in the New Jersey Athletic Conference with 8-3 records.  Rowan is 14-4 overall while NJCU has a 13-5 mark.
 
Curry led the team with a career-high 27 points, 20 in the second half.  He also grabbed seven rebounds.  Guard/forward Ramon Wright (sr. Newark, NJ/Irvington) totaled 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks.  Dickerson came off the bench for 11 points.  Center Diante Bah (jr. Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) recorded 11 boards, which was a career best.  Rob DePersia added nine points and dished six assists.
 
Toney led New Jersey City with 25 points and 10 rebounds.  Guard Lavrone Green (sr. Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) compiled 19 points and forward Yuri Brutus (sr. Roselle, NJ/Roselle Park) followed with 11.  Guard Shaquan Worthy (sr. Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) collected five assists.    
 
The Gothic Knights were up 46-33 in the second stanza at 16:44 after Toney's dunk.  The Profs took the lead (48-47) after a 15-1 run that ended with a layup (12:36) by Curry.  He then had a basket and a foul shot (12:09) to lead 51-47.  Bah's layup after an offensive rebound put Rowan up by six (55-49) at 10:04. Toney had two points at the line to trail by one (58-57) at 7:43.  Green's two free throws (4:58) made the score 67-66.  Curry had a basket (4:40) before Toney's tying three-pointer (69-69) with 4:32 remaining. 
 
The score was tied twice in the first half and there was only one lead change.  The Gothic Knights had a 15 point lead (32-17) with 4:54 left after Toney's two foul shots.  The Profs followed with a 6-1 spurt to cut the deficit to 10 (33-23) at 1:10. Forward Marko Pantovic (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Zemum (Serbia), Nick DePersia and Curry each contributed with two points.  NJCU ended the period with three free throws to lead by 13 (36-23) at the break. Green had two while Toney added one.
 
Next week, Rowan travels to The College of New Jersey on Wednesday, Jan. 23 for an 8 p.m. game.