GALLOWAY, NJ – Ja'Zere Noel scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Rowan defeated Stockton, 109-98, in the NJAC men's basketball opener this evening. Andrew Seager also added a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Profs (2-2; 1-0 NJAC).
 
Noel, who was named the NJAC Player of the Week, went 6-for-8 from the foul line in his third consecutive game leading Rowan in scoring. Seager shot 6-for-11 from the field in notching a season-high, while Marcellus Ross and Connor Dickerson scored 13 points apiece. Josh Wright scored 11 points off the bench.
 
Rowan built up a 10-point lead by halftime, 53-43, and increased it to 60-45 in the first few minutes of the second half. The Profs took their biggest lead of the game, 67-50, after a 6-0 run ending in a layup from Seager at 16:03 of the second half. Stockton (3-1) couldn't come any closer than seven points, 81-74, with 9:41 remaining in the game.
 
Rowan only trailed at the outset of the game after holding a 13-12 lead, Ross hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Rowan a 19-12 cushion at 14:48. Stockton closed within 27-26 before Josh Wright made two in a row to push the Profs' lead to 31-26.  
 
It was the first 100-plus point game of the year for Rowan, which surpassed the point plateau nine times last season. The Profs hit 49.3 percent from the field while Stockton made 17 three-pointers in the loss.
 
It also marked the first meeting between the teams since last year's NJAC Championship game won by Stockton.
 
Next, the Profs will head to TCNJ after holiday, meeting the Lions on Wednesday, November 30.