GLASSBORO, NJ – Stockton University scored six of the final seven points but the Rowan University men's basketball team survived, winning 87-85 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday night.

Forward TJ Booth (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) put the Profs ahead 86-79 with a layup with 2:11 remaining. Guard Onnir Kendall (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) responded with a lay-in and the score was 86-81 (1:46). After Rowan missed a shot, Kendall made another layup to cut the deficit to three (86-83) with 1:24 to go. The Profs did not convert on a layup attempt and Kendall was fouled. He made two free throws and the score was 86-85 (0:41). Guard/forward Ramon Wright (jr. East Orange, NJ/Irvington) was off the mark with a three-pointer but grabbed his own rebound. He was fouled and made one of two foul shots for an 87-85 lead (0:09). Stockton missed a final layup attempt at the buzzer and Rowan celebrated the victory.

The Profs are 2-1 overall and the Ospreys have a 3-1 record. Booth finished the game with a double-double, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds. Both were career highs. Guard DaRon Curry (jr. Deptford, NJ/Phelps School (PA)) poured in a game-high and career-best 20 points. Guard Nick DePersia (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) and Wright tallied 14 and 11 points respectively. Forward Austin Kearney (so. Monroeville, NJ/Gloucester County Christian) contributed with nine points. Rowan shot 48 percent from the field, including 58 percent in the first half.

Kendall led Stockton with 18 points. Forward Steve Ferebee (so. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) produced 12 points and 10 boards. Guard Zavon Johnson (sr. Trenton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro S.) and forwards Marcus Harmon (sr. Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) and Darius Jerkins (sr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) registered 17, 13 and 10 points respectively. Harmon also corralled eight rebounds. The Ospreys were 33-of-72 (46%) on field goal attempts.

In the opening period, the Profs led 19-18 at the 12:37 mark. Rowan increased the margin with six straight points. Guard Jeff Haddock (so. Burlington, NJ/Willingboro) had two free throws (11:27) and a layup (10:47) and Curry added a lay-in (9:47). The score was 35-27 before Stockton went on a 6-0 run to close the gap to two (35-33) with 4:37 on the clock. Harmon scored four points and Ferebee had two. The Profs followed with a 16-6 surge to go ahead 51-39 (1:24). Six different players scored in the run. Rowan had a 51-41 advantage at the break. DePersia had 12 points in the stanza and Ferebee posted 11.

The Profs had their largest lead at 14 (59-45) with 17:31 remaining. The Ospreys rallied to close the gap to six (65-59) with a 14-6 stretch. Five players contributed to the run. After a pair of Rowan layups, Stockton scored 12 of the next 16 points to get within two (73-71) at the 9:01 mark. The teams went back and forth before Booth's layup made the score 86-79.

Next, the men's basketball team hosts Neumann University on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.