GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men's basketball team topped Kean University, 71-69 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.

The Profs were ahead 52-39 with 15:21 remaining. The Cougars outscored Rowan, 20-9 over the next nine minutes to cut the deficit to two (61-59) with 6:30 to go. Six different players contributed to the stretch. The Profs registered five straight points to lead by seven (66-59) at 4:45. Forward Manny Lowe (fr. Berlin, NJ/Winslow Twp.) scored four of the points. Forward Micah Kerr (jr. Neptune, NJ/Neptune) and guard Justin Watson (jr. New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) made back-to-back layups and Kean trailed 66-63 (3:50).

Forward Michael Summerer (jr. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) had a layup at 2:06 and the Cougars were down 70-67. Kerr blocked a Rowan shot and Summerer grabbed the rebound. Guard Jeff Cooper's (so. Easton, PA/Wilson Area) layup made it a one-point game (70-69) with 1:36 on the clock. After both teams missed a shot attempt, guard Nick DePersia (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) was fouled and went to the line with 16 seconds to play. He made one shot for the final points. Kean's last shot at the buzzer was off the mark and the Profs celebrated the win.

DePersia finished the contest with 14 points. Forward TJ Booth (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Forward Ramon Wright (jr. East Orange, NJ/Irvington) produced 11 points, six boards and four blocks. Forward Austin Kearney (so. Monroeville, NJ/Gloucester County Christian) and Lowe each contributed with eight points. Kearney also had six rebounds.

Rowan has a 12-11 record with an 8-8 NJAC mark. The Cougars drop to 6-17 overall and they are 4-12 in the conference. Kean guard Adrian Baucum (fr. Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) posted a game-high 15 points. Watson ended the game with 11 points while Kerr and Cooper recorded 10 apiece. Kerr also corralled eight rebounds.

The score was tied at four in the opening period. Wright's dunk (15:29) and a three-pointer by Booth (14:59) gave the Profs an 11-7 lead. Guard Tommy Organ (so. Moorestown, NJ/Camden Catholic) had a foul shot to get the Cougars within two (15-13) at the 12:45 mark. Rowan followed with a 13-0 run for its largest lead of the contest (28-13). Five different players scored in the rally that ended at 10:14. Lowe's dunk (6:33) made the score 35-22 before Kean went on an 11-5 surge to trail 40-33 (0:09). Baucum poured in seven of the points. The Profs were ahead 42-33 at the break. In the second, a pair of Watson free throws (17:09) cut the deficit to seven (44-37). Six consecutive points by Rowan gave it a 13-point advantage (50-37) at 15:47.

The Profs play their final home game of the regular season versus Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.