GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men's basketball team fell to The College of New Jersey, 104-92 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
The loss ended the Profs' five-game win streak. They are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference. The Lions improve to 7-1 with a 4-0 NJAC mark.
Guard Eric Murdock, Jr. (sr. Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater) led TCNJ with 32 points. Guard Randy Walko (so. Somerville, NJ/Somerville) recorded a double-double with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Niall Carpenter (so. Westampton, NJ/Westampton) and forward Jordan Glover (jr. Trenton, NJ/Lawrence) scored 12 points apiece. Glover also grabbed eight boards. The Lions shot 56 percent from the field and won the rebound battle, 43-30.
Rowan guard Jeff Haddock (so. Burlington, NJ/Willingboro) posted a career-high 25 points. He was 9-of-13 on field goals, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Guard DaRon Curry (jr. Deptford, NJ/Phelps School (PA)) also had a career mark with 24 points. Guard/forward Ramon Wright (jr. East Orange, NJ/Irvington) registered his second double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Nick DePersia (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) contributed with 14 points while guard Rob DePersia (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) added nine points and six assists.
The Profs scored the first five points of the contest on Curry's jumper (19:46) and Nick DePersia's three-pointer (19:24). Rowan was ahead 17-13 after a layup by Rob DePersia at 14:03. TCNJ followed with a 15-6 run to go up by five (28-23) at the 9:49 mark. Murdock led the charge with nine points. Forward TJ Booth (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) made two free throws (9:31) and Haddock drilled a three (9:14) to tie the score at 28. The Lions took the lead for good with an 11-2 rally that ended at 6:34. Four different players scored in the run. Wright's foul shots closed the gap to within one (40-39) with 3:16 to go before TCNJ tallied nine of the final 12 points in the period. The score was 49-42 at halftime. Murdock tallied 18 points in the stanza and Nick DePersia had 14.
In the second half, Wright's jump shot (15:08) brought the Profs within four (58-54). Walko's layup (13:51) increased the margin to 65-56. The Lions were in front by 15 (79-64) after a 12-4 stretch. Rowan cut the deficit to eight (81-73) with 6:52 remaining after a 9-2 surge. Haddock had five of the nine points. Glover scored on a layup at the 4:22 mark to make the score 93-78, matching TCNJ's largest lead of the game.
The Profs head to Montclair State University for a conference game on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.