EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey men's basketball team picked up a win over Rowan University on Wednesday night by a final score of 96-77. The Lions improved their record to 3-3 including 1-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the Profs dipped to 3-2 and 1-1 in the conference.

Rowan hopped out to a 19-8 lead just over five minutes into the game. Randall Walko knocked down a three-pointer, then Sterling White hit a trifecta on the next possession. A lay-up from P.J. Ringel pulled the Lions to 23-19, but then the Profs built their lead back up to 39-28.

With 2:26 to play in the first half, Jason Larranaga hit a three-pointer to make it a 39-31 Prof lead. Another trifecta hit when White connected from downtown. Right before the half ended, Walko sank a pair of free throws to make it a 44-38 game. Rowan took that six point lead into the locker room.

Mike Walley nailed back-to-back three-pointers early in the second half, with the latter pulling the Lions within 48-44. Ringel hit a three-pointer, then a jumper to make it a 52-49 Rowan lead. The Lions continued to be locked in, and went on a 16-4 run.

Three-pointers from Walley, White, and Ryan Jensen put the Lions ahead 58-54 with 13 minutes to play. A pair of free throws from Tommy Egan put the Lions ahead 60-54 and completed the big run.

TCNJ went on another run, this time with a 13-4 advantage to take a 75-63 lead. Conner Dickerson of Rowan stole the ball away from Ringel. Ringel stayed with it, and came up with a monster block on Dickerson's lay-up attempt that pinned the ball against the rim and the backboard. After that play, the momentum shifted to the Lions, and TCNJ took advantage of the energy down the stretch.

Walley hit another three-pointer off of a Ringel assist to make it a 67-59 lead. A few possessions later, Walley kept it alive with an offensive rebound. He found Travis Jocelyn underneath the hoop, and Jocelyn threw down a dunk. Walko then scored on a strong take to the hole to make it a 75-63 advantage.

The Lions were able to control the rest of the game, and not let Rowan back within striking distance to seal the victory.

Jocelyn led the way with a game-high 21 points, and he added six rebounds. Walko tallied 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Ringel scored 13 points, dished out five assists, and grabbed four rebounds. All five TCNJ starters finished the game in double figures, as Walley tallied 12 points and four rebounds, while Jensen added 10 points and eight rebounds. White pitched in with points nine off of the bench, while Larranaga added seven.

TCNJ outscored Rowan 58-33 in the second half.

The Lions will resume play at Rutgers-Newark on Dec. 7.