GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan's comeback attempt fell just short as Rutgers-Newark held off the Profs, 66-60, despite a career-high 23 points from freshman Josh Wright. The loss drops the Profs to 12-2 (5-2 NJAC) and ends their winning streak at eight games.
 
Rowan, with only seven players available due to injuries and Covid protocols, fell behind by 18 points in the first half, but used a strong second half to come within two points late in the game.
 
Damian Smith scored 15 points and Marcellus Ross added 13 for Rowan. D'Andre Vilmar led the Profs with 11 rebounds while Marko Pantovic grabbed a career-high nine boards.
 
Trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Profs used a 14-6 run over four minutes to pull within 56-54 on a putback by Smith with four minutes to play. Rutgers-Newark (9-4; 6-1) then answered with six straight points to build its lead up to 62-54 on a pair of free throws by Jamir Patterson. Ross scored four straight for Rowan to cut the deficit to 62-58 before Rutgers increased the lead to 64-58.
 
Ross connected on two more free throws to bring Rowan within 64-60 with 50.4 remaining, but the Profs couldn't get another shot to fall and Rutgers-Newark finished out the game with two free throws.
 
In the first half, the Scarlet Raiders capitalized on cold shooting by the Profs as the home team hit just 19.4 percent (6-of-31) from the field. Rutgers-Newark took charge late in the first half with a seven-minute spurt late as it went on a 19-2 run, shooting 7-of-13 from the field, to take a 36-20 lead and then a 38-24 edge at halftime.
 
The Profs, who are 9-0 away from home, will put that record on the line when they return to  action on Wednesday, January 12 at Montclair State with an 8 p.m. tip-off.