UNION, NJ – Khalif Meares had a game-high 26 points, including four down the stretch, as the Rowan men's basketball team held on for an 85-80 win at Kean in NJAC action. The Profs improve to 10-4 and 4-3 in the league.
 
Meares went 8-for-15 from the field and 10-for-14 from the foul line while also grabbing seven rebounds. Marcellus Ross scored 18 points and Ja'Zere Noel had 17 points and 12 rebounds, with Josh Wright chipping in 12 points off the bench.
 
The teams traded leads in the final minutes and Kean (7-7; 4-3) took an 80-77 lead at 1:09 on a three-pointer by Justin Morton. Meares then hit a layup with 55 seconds to go and then converted two free throws at :23 to put the Profs ahead for good. Jamir Spivey made both free throws at :05 to seal the win as Rowan scored the final six points of the game.
 
Rowan appeared to have the game in hand in the first half as it shot 57 percent from the field en route to building up a 15-point lead with over three minutes left. Kean closed out the half with six straight points to cut it to 47-38 at intermission.
 
The Cougars maintained that momentum at the start of the second, outscoring the Profs, 11-2, in the first four minutes to tie the score at 49-49.
 
The teams traded leads from there on out, with Rowan going back up, 61-55, after three straight baskets at the midway point of the half. Kean answered with six straight to tie the score at 61-61. A three-pointer from Ross at 7:51 gave Rowan a 69-65 lead, but the Profs couldn't put it away and trailed, 74-71 with under five minutes to play. Kean's last lead, however, would be 77-75 with 2:07 remaining.
 
Rowan's defense forced 22 turnovers by the home team while the Profs took care of the ball, committing only six.
 
The Profs return home to meet Montclair State on Wednesday, January 13^th, in a 7:30 p.m. start.