GLASSBORO, NJ – Andrew Seager scored 23 points and Marcellus Ross had 18 as Rowan defeated Utica, 83-72, to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. The Profs will face Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Friday, March 10 in the sectional round at Mount Union with a game time of 4:45 p.m.
 
BRACKET 

It marks the first time since 1997-98 that Rowan (24-5) has won its first two games in the NCAA Championship. The Profs' 24 victories are the most under head coach Joe Crispin and the most since the 1998-99 team went 25-2.
 
Seager made his first five shots of the game and ended up shooting 10-for-13 from the field, while grabbing 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year. Ross made three three-pointers and was 5-for-7 from the line. Ja'Zere Noel also notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Profs never trailed in the game, but Utica (23-5) threatened early with its three-point shooting, as the Pioneers made seven long-range shots in the first half, including three by Darius Hopkins. Holding a 27-26 lead, Rowan rattled off an 11-2 run, and finished the half outscoring Utica, 17-5, to take a 44-31 advantage at halftime, helped by 17-of-30 (57 percent) shooting from the field.
 
Rowan kept rolling in the second half and just three minutes into the period, held a 50-34 lead. Utica cut the deficit to single digits and used an 8-0 run to come within 60-55 with 10:44 to play. The Profs answered with eight straight points beginning with a three-pointer from Ahmad Bickley and a short jumper from Damian Smith to increase the margin back up to double digits, 69-55.
 
Utica, which was led by Hopkins with 30 points, would come within nine points three more times in the final five minutes, and with 2:37 to play, trailed by 77-68. Rowan then scored six straight as a jumper by Ross with 1:35 left put the game away, with the Profs up, 83-68.

The Profs finished the game converting 52 percent from the field and despite going 5-for-23 from behind the arc, Rowan was 14-of-17 from the foul line.