Montclair, NJ – Freshman forward TJ Booth (Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown) put back the third chance for Rowan with four-tenths of a second remaining lifting the Profs to an 80-78 victory over Montclair State at the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.
Booth, who finished with eight points and six rebounds, scored the last four for the Profs (15-8, 9-7 NJAC), who kept pace with Rutgers-Newark and The College of New Jersey for third place in the NJAC standings. Rowan also registered its third straight victory overall and its third consecutive win over MSU as the Profs took a 68-50 lead in the all-time series.
Freshman guard Shaun Russell (Brooklyn, NY / Willingboro) had 19 points off the bench for MSU, which had its two-game winning streak snapped. Montclair, which won on a buzzer-beater at Yeshiva on Monday, fell to 7-15 overall, 3-13 in the NJAC. It is the fourth straight game for the Red Hawks that was decided by three points or less as MSU is now 3-6 in those contests this season.
For the second consecutive week Montclair State was stunned in the final seconds by its visiting NJAC foe as William Paterson rallied for a 70-67 win. This time it was booth that delivered the fatal blow for Rowan, which led by as many as 14 points early in the second half.
Ike Robinson (Trenton, NJ / Conwell-Egan Catholic) put Rowan in front 71-68 with 2:46 to go on a three-pointer however the Red Hawks ripped off the next seven points – five by Russell whose two free throws with 1:32 remaining made the score 75-71. Kris O'Connor (Mount Laurel, NJ / Paul VI) drained a three-pointer 20 seconds later to get Rowan within a point but Erick Loften-Harris (Union, NJ / Union) countered with two from the line for a 77-74 MSU advantage with 38 ticks.
Chris Gross (Cranford, NJ / Roselle Catholic) put in a layup with 28 seconds for a 77-76 MSU lead. After the Profs fouled, Montclair's Devyn Ransom (Jersey City, NJ / Marist) made 1-of-2 at the line making the score 78-76. The Profs would get two chances and Booth was fouled on the second. He would go to the line and made the first. Booth missed the second but was able to come up with the rebound giving Rowan one last chance with five seconds.
Following the timeout, Daniel Waynick (East Windsor, NJ / Hightstown) drove to the basket and missed his layup. Booth got the rebound, missed and managed to get another before laying the ball in putting Rowan in front 79-78. He would make his free throw attempt for the final margin. MSU did manage to get a desperation heave at the buzzer however that went wide.
Robinson finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four blocks for Rowan, which outrebounded MSU 51-37 overall in the game including a huge 27-13 on the offensive glass. Gross tallied 16 points along with seven rebounds while Mike Simpson (Sicklerville, NJ / Winslow Township) added 13 points and eight rebounds. Skylar Moore (Westville, NJ / Hempstead (NY)) also had eight points with Waynick chipping in with five points and seven rebounds.
Ransom posted 15 points and nine rebounds for Montclair State which got nine points and four rebounds from junior Kevin McGorry (Rutherford, NJ / Rutherford). Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ / Teaneck) added eight points with Loften-Harris recording six points, four rebounds and five assists. Jerome Hilton (Jersey City, NJ /Snyder) added five points and five rebounds.
The Red Hawks turn right around and go back to action on Thursday, February 12 with a 6:30 pm in New York City against Hunter College. It will be the fourth of five games for MSU in an eight day span as Montclair will host New Jersey City University on Saturday, February 14 at 1:00 pm.