MONTCLAIR, NJ – Rowan clinched its second straight NJAC men's basketball regular-season title despite falling to Montclair State, 113-110, in double overtime in the final game of the regular season. The #21 Profs (19-6) have earned the top seed and a bye in the 2024 NJAC Championship and will host a semifinal game on Wednesday, February 21st at 7 p.m. in Esby Gym.
Rowan finished the regular season with a 13-5 mark in the conference and despite the loss, was helped by second-place Stockton falling to Kean, 72-56, this evening.
Marcellus Ross scored a team-high 31 points, hitting five three-pointers as he posted his third 30-plus point game of the year. Ja'Zere Noel scored 27 points and Khalif Meares netted 19 for the Profs.
With Montclair State (17-8; 12-6) leading, 92-86, with 58 seconds remaining in regulation, Ross connected on back-to-back three-pointers, with his second tying the game at 92-92 and sending it into the first extra period.
In the first overtime, Montclair State led 103-101 at :15 but Meares connected on a driving layup with :07 to tie the game again and force the second overtime.
The Red Hawks struck first in the second overtime as Mike Jackson hit a three-pointer. Rowan took a 108-106 lead on five straight points by Ross, before Jackson forced a tie, 108-108, with a layup as he finished with 33 points, after going scoreless in the first half. Rowan regained the lead, 110-109, but the Red Hawks scored the final four of the game to earn the win. The Profs had one last chance, but Meares' three-point attempt was off the mark.
Trailing 50-37 at halftime, Montclair State started inching back in the second half, outscoring the Profs, 14-7, in the first four minutes to pull within, 59-53. The Red Hawks put together a 15-4 run to take a 68-65 lead with 11:13 remaining and would lead for the remainder of the half until Ross hit the game-tying three-pointers.
In the first half, Rowan used a 12-2 run to break a 20-20 tie and go up by 32-22 at the midway point. The Profs built upon that lead with six straight to lead 41-29 with 5:15 left and then gained their biggest lead of the half, 48-33, after a three from Mikey Robinson, Jr., and basket by Meares in the final two minutes.-