CAMDEN, NJ – Khalif Meares scored a game-high 29 points and Marcellus Ross tallied 23 as Rowan held off Rutgers-Camden, 79-70, in an NJAC men's basketball game, to pick up its fourth straight win and remain tied for first place in the conference.

Meares was 11-for-16 from the floor and grabbed six steals while Ross made 9-of-17 of his field goal attempts. Jamir Spivey scored 11 points off the bench for Rowan (16-5; 10-4 NJAC).

Rutgers-Camden (11-10; 6-8) rallied from a 20-point deficit and led with under 10 minutes remaining, but the Profs were able to regain the lead and stay in front for the final seven minutes to earn the win.

Rowan was up by 20 at the start of the second half, 41-21, but Rutgers-Camden put together a 16-4 run, that included nine straight points, to cut its deficit to 45-36 at 15:19. With Rowan holding a 50-39 lead, the Scarlet Raptors scored 13 consecutive points, with three three-pointers, and took their first lead of the game, 52-50, with 9:36 remaining. That closed out a seven-minute span where Rutgers-Camden made 10-of-14 field goals and outscored the Profs, 27-5.

Rowan took back the lead, 58-54, on a three-point play by Spivey and stayed in front for the final seven minutes. Ross connected on a three-pointer to give the Profs a 72-62 lead with 2:10 and ice the win.

The Profs stormed out to a 14-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Rutgers-Camden got on the board at 14:05 with eight straight points and eventually came within 26-18 with over four minutes to play. From there, Rowan scored eight in a row, with six of them from the foul line. Meares connected on a three-pointer at :06 to give the Profs a 39-21 lead, its biggest of the first half.

In the first half, Rowan made 45.8 (11-of-24) of its field goals but held a decisive edge at the foul line, making 14-of-18 attempts, with Rutgers-Camden hitting only 5-of-12. The tables were turned in the second half as the Scarlet Raptors made 13-of-15 from the line and the Profs going 6-for-9.

 Rowan will host Kean on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Esby Gym for "Senior Day".