Glassboro, N.J. (2/7/15) – The Rowan University men's basketball team held on for a 73-66 win over Kean University in NJAC action on Saturday night.
The Profs held a 63-62 advantage with 2:27 to go. Forward Mike Simpson drained a three (2:02) for a four-point margin. Guard Kris O'Connor converted two foul shots at the 43-second mark putting the score at 68-62. Forward Chris Gross blocked a layup attempt, O'Connor grabbed the rebound and fed Simpson for a dunk (0:25). Guard J.J. Hladik nailed a triple to cut the deficit to four (70-66) with 19 seconds remaining, but O'Connor iced the game with a free throw (0:17) and a layup (0:05).
Rowan moves to 14-8 overall and 8-7 in the conference. The Cougars drop to 5-17 with a 3-12 NJAC mark. O'Connor led four players in double figures with 16 points. He also had seven rebounds, seven steals and four assists. Simpson finished with 15 points followed by forward Ike Robinson with 14. Gross ended the contest with 12 points. Robinson and Gross corralled seven rebounds apiece.
Kean guard Tommy Soulias produced a game-high 20 points. Hladik tallied 14 points and forward Tim Steward recorded 12. Soulias and Steward each grabbed eight boards and guard Mike Diamond had seven. Forward Dre Kelly chipped in with eight points. Guard Kevin Grek dished six assists.
There were four ties in the first half. Soulias' three made the score 6-6 at 16:56. The Cougars led by two (10-8) before an 8-0 Rowan run gave the Profs a 16-10 advantage (10:33). Forward Skylar Moore and O'Connor each drained a shot from downtown and center Dan Brogan had a layup. Robinson converted back-to-back layups and Rowan was up 22-15 with 8:29 left. Kean responded with the next eight points to go ahead by one (23-22) with 4:45 on the clock. Steward tallied five points and Hladik nailed a three in the run. The score was knotted again at both 26 (3:13) and 28 (2:55). The Cougars had five consecutive points before Robinson sank two free throws at the 53-second mark to end the period.
Hladik started the second stanza with a three (19:28) before the Profs went on a 19-3 surge to take a 49-39 lead (15:01). Robinson produced eight points followed by Simpson with five, Gross, four and Moore, two. A layup by Soulias (pictured left) cut the deficit to three (50-47) with 12:37 remaining. Gross' layup gave Rowan a six-point cushion (57-51) at 9:19. Forward Lincoln Holley's jumper (2:27) got Kean within one (63-62).
The Cougars are back in action when they host William Paterson University on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
