Box score

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey men's basketball team fell in its season finale to Rowan University 72-69.

It was a difficult close to a frustrating season as the Lions (4-21, 0-13 NJAC) surrendered a 20-point halftime lead to the visiting Profs (12-13, 5-8 NJAC).

Sophomore Donavan Smalls (Union, NJ/Union) led TCNJ with 21 points including five three-pointers, while senior Steve Siracusa (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) finished with a game-high 12 rebounds and seven points in his final game in a Lions' uniform.

Junior Roger Loatman (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) had a spectacular performance scoring a game-high 32 points on 10-of-12 shooting. He also knocked down 11 free throws on the night. Kendall White (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) scored 12 points and pulled in eight rebounds while freshman Jason Rosenberg (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) added 10 points and four assists.

TCNJ jumped out to a 42-22 lead at the half. They moved the ball extremely well on offense and capitalized when they got open looks. Smalls led the charge hitting five of six shots from the floor, including three from downtown.

The game was locked at nine a piece five minutes into the game, but the Lions bolted out on a 33-9 run to take command of the contest. Smalls converted a four-point play with two minutes remaining in the half and then drained a long 3-pointer on the next possession to give TCNJ its largest lead at 42-18.

Siracusa controlled the boards grabbing nine rebounds in the first half.

Rowan emerged from the intermission with renewed purpose as they quickly diced into the lead in the opening five minutes. A tip-in by White closed the gap to 49-38.

The Lions righted the ship and played steady over the next 10 minutes, but the Profs continued to chip away as TCNJ's offense went cold.

Loatman took the team on his back with 5:40 remaining in the contest, leading them on a 13-0 run. He dropped in three consecutive free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to draw within 10 and then scored on the following possession. Loatman knocked down four straight attempts from the charity stripe before junior Akeem Johnson (Gouldtown, NJ/Bridgeton) hit a short jumper and suddenly it was a two-point game.

A Smalls three-pointer with 2:55 left pushed the lead back to 69-64, but two Rowan baskets and a free throw by Rosenberg knotted the game at 69 with 1:23 to play. Loatman followed with a baseline jumper and the Profs had their first lead since the 15:44 mark of the first half.

Freshman Rich McNamara (Southhampton, NJ/Seneca) added a free throw to make it a 72-69 final.

Rowan advances to the New Jersey Athletic Conference and will take on New Jersey City University or Montclair State University this Saturday.