ROCHESTER, NY –
Josh Wright hit a pair of free throws at :04 to give Rowan a 78-77 win over Wooster in the championship game of Rochester's Chuck Wesler Tournament. The Profs are now 2-0 under first-year interim coach
Eric Brennan.
Khalif Meares was named the MVP of the tournament, with
Ja'Zere Noel being selected to the All-Tournament Team. Meares averaged 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 5.0 steals with Noel averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the two wins.
Against Wooster, Wright came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points, while hitting four three-point field goals.
Khalif Meares had 18 points and
Ja'Zere Noel scored 15 for the Profs, with
Booty Butler chipping in 12 on 4-for-6 shooting.
With Rowan leading 76-73 at 2:45, Wooster (1-1) scored four straight points to take a 77-76 lead with 21 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Wright drew the foul with four seconds left to send him to the line for the winning shots.
The game was nip and tuck the entire second half, with Wooster holding the biggest lead, 65-60, with 9:09 to play.
Ja'Zere Noel cut it to 65-63 after a three pointer. Wooster again went up by five, 65-60, and Rowan trailed the entire time. The Profs came within 69-68 on a three-point play by
Khalif Meares at 6:06.
Rowan tied the game, 73-73, on a three-point play from
Booty Butler wit 3:04 remaining and Noel gave the Profs a 75-73 lead at 2:47. Wright extended that to 76-73, but Wooster took the lead, setting the stage for Wright's free throws.
It was more of the same in the first half as there were nine ties and the teams traded leads repeatedly.
The Profs return to action on November 15
th at Eastern.
