FOUR ROADRUNNERS SCORE DOUBLE DIGITS LEADING RAMAPO TO 96-84 WIN OVER ROWAN
Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College men’s basketball team played host to NJAC rival Rowan University today at the Bradley Center in Mahwah posting a 96-84 victory to improve to 16-7 overall, 9-7 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs fall to 12-12 overall, 5-12 in the conference.
Ramapo opened to a 9-2 start behind seven Todd Lowber (Riverside, NJ) points and with 12:50 left to play in the half, Ramapo grabbed a 14 point lead after two jumpers from Noel Colon (Jersey City, NJ), 21-7. Ramapo continued to spread the gap forcing seven Rowan turnovers in the first ten minutes, grabbing a 30-15 lead. The Profs closed the gap to 37-30 which held for the next two minutes, neither team able to sink a basket. Ramapo’s Colon hit the back end of a two shot foul pushing the Roadrunners ahead by eight, 38-30 with just under six minutes to play. Ramapo forced another Prof turn-over and grabbed a defensive board which was followed by two points from sophomore Shawn Frost (Newark, NJ) giving the Roadrunners a 40-30 lead. Billy Care (Linwood, NJ) hit a three and Matt Byrnes (Mays Landing, NJ) hit a jumper closing the gap, 40-35. For the final three and a half minutes of the half, Ramapo outscored Rowan 13-6 and Ramapo hit a three at the buzzer to take a 54-41 halftime lead.
Lowber led the way in the half hitting 5-7 from the field for 13 points while Antoine Pryor (Elizabeth, NJ) hit 3-7 (2-5 from the arc) for eight halftime points. Byrnes sunk 20 in the half leading Rowan and Care and Steve Thomas (Turnersville, NJ) hit 11 and five respectively. Ramapo netted 19 of 33 (58%) while the Profs sunk 14 of 30 (47%) in the first 20 minutes.
Ramapo continued to spread the gap hitting 16-28 in the second half taking a 22 point lead at the 10:47 minute mark. The closest Rowan would come was with 2:03 left to play when Care hit a jumper off an assist from Will Baumgardner (Glassboro, NJ) to come within 12. The team was led by four double digit scorer’s including 17 from Lowber. Sophomore Mike Malko (Hillsborough, NJ) netted 16 of his own while Pryor recorded 14 and junior Ryan Kearny (North Arlington, NJ) posted ten in the win. Senior Quameir Harding (Jersey City, NJ) grabbed five steals while Pryor, Harding, and John Wojcik (Sayreville, NJ) each dished out five assists.
For the Profs, Byrnes led the way sinking 13-25 from the field including seven three-pointers for 38 points while recording the double-double with 11 rebounds. Care followed with 18 points and three steals while Rahim Shiver (Cherry Hill, NJ) grabbed three of his own. For the game, Ramapo shot 57% ahead of Rowan’s 43%.
Ramapo returns to action on Wednesday, February 16th when they travel to William Paterson University for an 8:00 PM NJAC match-up while the Profs host Richard Stockton at 8:00 PM in another NJAC match-up in Glassboro.