Highlights
GLASSBORO, NJ –
Andrew Seager scored 27 points and
Marcellus Ross had 26 points and 13 rebounds as the Rowan men's basketball team defeated Montclair State, 110-102, in overtime on "Senior Night" and the final game of the regular season.
The Profs, who are 21-4 (14-4 NJAC) have secured the number-two seed in next week's NJAC Tournament and will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, February 22, at 7:30 p.m. with the opponent to be determined after Saturday's first-round contests.
Seager matched his career-high while connecting on three three-pointers and Ross had his second double-double of the season.
Hafeez Melvin filled up the boxscore with 20 points, three steals and career-highs of seven assists and four blocks while
Connor Dickerson chipped in 15 points and tied his career-high with five steals.
Prior to the contest, Rowan honored seniors
Arian Azemi and
Marko Pantovic in their final regular-season home game.
The Profs outscored the Red Hawks, 14-6, in overtime, and never trailed. A pair of three-pointers from Ross in the first two minutes helped Rowan jump out to the quick lead and earn the win, its sixth straight. led by a pair of threes from Ross in the first two minutes.
The teams were close throughout the second half in a fast-paced and hard-fought contest. Melvin gave Rowan a 78-77 lead at 7:44 with a layup and Seager followed with a basket increased it to 80-77 and gave Rowan the lead until the final seconds of regulation.
With 42.3 seconds left, Montclair's Steven Breeman converted a four-point play with a three-pointer and free throw that pulled the Red Hawks within 95-94. After the Profs missed on their next possession, Kieran Flanagan made a pair of free throws at 10.5 seconds to give the visitors a 96-95 lead.
Dickerson made the second of two free throws with 5.3 seconds left to tie the score at 96-96, and Azemi picked up a steal to give the Profs one more chance with 0.3 to go, but they couldn't get off a shot in time, and the teams went to overtime.
In the first half, Montclair State jumped out to an 11-2 lead at the start and Rowan caught up, trailing 19-15 after a three-pointer by Melvin at 12:21. That started a 10-4 run for the Profs, and Melvin mae another three, to help them come within 24-22. Rowan stayed within striking distance the rest of the way, and took its only lead of the half, 34-33, on a pair of free throws by Ross.
Montclair State, which made 13 three-pointers in the first half, held a 54-51 lead at halftime.
Mike Jackson of Montclair State had 42 points, as he made 10 three-pointers, with Breeman adding 25 points. The Red Hawks converted 18 threes in the contest, on 47 attempts.
The NJAC Championship will include all 10 teams this season and begin on February 19 when the four lowest seeds will play first-round games. The higher seeds will host all games throughout the tournament and the quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday, February 22 with the semifinals set for Thursday, February 24. The NJAC Championship game will be played on Saturday, February 26, with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
