GLASSBORO, NJ – Ja'Zere Noel scored a game-high 28 points to lead the #25 Rowan men's basketball team to a 99-87 win over New Jersey City at Esby Gym in the final home game of the regular season. It was the sixth straight win for Rowan (17-5; 12-4 NJAC) which picked up the victory in its first game as a ranked team.

Noel, who shot 8-for-16 from the field and 10-for-10 from the foul line, grabbed 11 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season. Marcellus Ross scored 18 points and Jamir Spivey matched his season-high with 15 points with Josh Wright chipping in 14 points and Khalif Meares adding 10.

Although Rowan had a 57-43 lead early in the second half, NJCU (7-16; 4-12) chipped away at it and cut it to 61-55 at the 14-minute mark. But seven straight points from Noel, and a three-point play by Wright, built the Rowan lead back up to double-digits, 71-60, in two minutes.

The Gothic Knights again cut their deficit to 74-70, but Rowan again had an answer with a basket by Booty Butler, free throws from Ross and a layup from Danny Fleming to go back up by 10 points, 80-70.

Rowan took its biggest lead of the game, 89-75, on a layup by Spivey with 4:36 remaining and maintained the double-digit advantage the rest of the way.

NJCU cut it to 61-55 six minutes into the half but seven straight points from Noel, and a three-point play by Josh Wright, built the Rowan lead back up to double-digits, 71-60.

NJCU led 23-19 at the midway point of the half, and the teams traded leads until Noel scored five straight to break a 33-33 tie. His three-pointer at 3:44, which was the first of the game for Rowan, gave the Profs the lead for good. Ross then connected on a three-pointer of his own to start an 11-2 run in the final 2:37 to give Rowan its biggest lead of the half, 49-39.

Although the Profs made just 5-of-16 of their three-point attempts, Rowan was on target from close range, converting 50 percent (32-of-64) from the field.

Rowan takes to the road for the final two games of the regular season, heading to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday and then to Montclair State on February 14th.