Box Score

 Glassboro, NJ … A big second half by Rowan University handed The College of New Jersey men's basketball team a 74-52 loss in New Jersey Athletic Conference play.
 
The Lions (5-18, 3-13 NJAC) held a one-point edge at halftime, but the Profs (17-6, 10-6 NJAC) outscored TCNJ 38-15 in the second half to move closer to clinching a home playoff game. Rowan has won seven of their last eight contests.
 
Junior Matthew Rista (Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony's) led the Lions with 16 points on the night. Sophomore Emmanuel Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) finished with seven points and three assists, while junior forward Joe Kane (Cinnaminson, NJ/Holy Cross) grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
 
The Profs had four players in double figures. Dee Benson led all scorers with 17 points, while Phil Jackson registered a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards. Jason Rosenberg shot 60 percent from the field and finished with 13 points and nine assists.
 
Near perfect shooting from the free throw line (11-of-12) and six, three-point field goals gave TCNJ a 37-36 advantage at the break. The Lions led 6-5 before missing seven straight field goal attempts as the Profs bolted to an 11-0 run. TCNJ worked its way back into the game as Matlock hit four free throws and senior William Lester (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) buried a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 16-13 with 12 minutes to play.
 
The contest remained balanced, but Rowan slowly built its lead back to ten points when Matt Whitworth hit a jumper to go up 35-25. The Lions responded, however, with 11 unanswered points. Rista and Lester dialed it up from long distance on subsequent possessions and Rista then deposited a pair of free throws. Sophomore Ryan Keegan (Farmingdale, NJ/Howell) then drained a three-pointer to put TCNJ up 36-35.
 
A 14-4 run in the first six minutes of the second period put the Profs back in the driver's seat. Eight offensive rebounds in the half by the host along with 17 percent shooting from the Lions put the game out of reach for the visitors. Rowan held a 38-6 scoring advantage in the paint.
 
TCNJ returns to campus to play their home finale this Saturday, February 9 against New Jersey City University at 3 p.m.