Box Score

 Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey men's basketball team played perhaps its best game of the season, but came out on the short end of a 74-70 decision to Rowan University in Packer Hall on Wednesday night.
 
Trailing by two points with less than 10 second on the clock, the Lions (2-7, 1-5) had a chance to tie the game but junior Rich McNamara (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) blocked a shot inside to give the Profs (9-1, 4-1 NJAC) their ninth victory in ten games this season.
 
Junior Matthew Rista (Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony's) scored a career-high 20 points and dished out four assists to lead TCNJ, while sophomore Jayson Johnson (Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) put forth another strong effort with 11 points and four assists.
 
Senior forward Brendan Cox (Lindenwold, NJ/Highland Regional) netted 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Rowan. Junior guard Jason Rosenberg (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) finished with 12 points and six assists, while senior guard Kendall White (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) added 12 points and four assists in the victory.
 
It was an exciting contest from start to finish as there were 11 lead changes, including eight in the second half. Rowan held a distinct size advantage, but only held a 38-34 advantage in rebounds. Points in the paint were a factor, however, as the Profs outscored TCNJ underneath 42-18.
 
The Lions played fundamentally sound in the opening period. Nine different players registered points and they turned the ball over just five times. TCNJ led the majority of the half until Matt Whitworth (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) found the bottom of the net from the top of the key with 3:16 remaining. That was part of a 10-0 run that gave Rowan a 35-26 advantage. The Lions drew with six at the intermission as junior Alex Fox (Washington, NJ/Westwood drained a three-pointer just before the buzzer.
 
TCNJ clawed its back to tie the game in the opening five minutes of the period. Rista hit back-to-back threes and junior Joe Kane (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross) converted on a fast-break bucket to close the gap to 39-38 period. Johnson then hit a free throw to even the score.
 
Down 52-51, Rowan demonstrated its poise as they rattled off eight straight points to push ahead by six. But TCNJ would not relent as senior William Lester (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) buried a trey from the left corner to tighten the match. He then hit both ends of a one-and-one to shave the deficit to one point at 58-57 with five minutes remaining.
 
The Profs went ahead by six with under two minutes to play, but Fox responded with a long three with 1:35 left. Both squads traded free throws before Phil Jackson (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lendape) knocked down a baseline jumper to increase the Rowan lead to five. With 35 seconds remaining, Rista rinsed the bottom of the net from way downtown to trim the deficit to 72-70.

The Lions got the ball back with 28 seconds remaining and let the clock get down to 10 seconds. McNamara came up with the biggest defensive play of the game with a block to keep the Profs unbeaten in conference play.
 
TCNJ returns to the hardwood this Saturday when they visit non-conference opponent Drew University at 2 p.m. The Profs will host William Paterson University in NJAC play on Saturday at 1 p.m.