SWARTHMORE, PA – Khalif Meares scored a career-high 30 points, including six down the stretch, as Rowan outlasted Swarthmore in overtime, 91-86, in non-conference men's basketball action. It was the Profs' fourth overtime game this season as they improve to 9-4.

Meares shot 11-for-18 from the field and picked up six steals, as he continues to lead the nation in that category. Ja'Zere Noel scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year, with Mikey Robinson, Jr., (12 points) and Marcellus Ross (11 points) also adding double figures for Rowan.

With the Profs trailing, 83-81, Jamir Spivey scored four straight to give Rowan the lead for good in the extra period, 87-81. Meares then netted six points in the final 2:29 to seal the victory.

The final minute of regulation saw each team come up with big plays and the extra five minutes was needed. With 35 seconds remaining, Swarthmore's Vinny D'Angelo connected on a three from the corner to put the Garnet up, 77-76. Then out of a timeout, Meares scored on a driving layup, to put the Profs ahead, 78-77, with :23 remaining. On Swarthmore's next possession, the Garnet called for a timeout which they didn't have. Noel made one of two shots for the technical at :09, to give Rowan a 79-77 lead. Swarthmore inbounded in its half of the court and after a missed three-pointer, Cal Hanson connected on a short jumper at :02 to send it into the extra period.

The second half featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes, with Rowan's 53-48 lead being its biggest margin while Swarthmore led by as much as four points.

Noel gave Rowan a 74-71 lead with 3:29 to play but D'Angelo connected on a three at 1:57 to knot the game at 74-74. A layup by Robinson pushed Rowan ahead, 76-74, before another three from D'Angelo, who finished with 27 points.

In the first half, Rowan trailed 15-14, but scored nine straight points, with five from Ross to take a 24-14 lead.  A basket by Noel and back-to-back buckets from Meares gave the Profs their biggest lead of the half, 32-22, with just under five minutes to play. Swarthmore answered with seven straight points of its own to trim the Rowan lead to 32-29 after a three from Eddie Paquette at 3:22. In the final minute, Paquette scored five for the home team and Meares had four for Rowan to give the Profs a 32-29 halftime lead.

Rowan resumes NJAC play on Saturday when it travels to Kean for a 1 p.m. game.