CNBNews

NEWARK, NJ – Josh Wright scored a team-high 21 points to help the Rowan men’s basketball team to an 80-65 road win over Rutgers-Newark in NJAC action Saturday evening. It is the third win in a row for the Profs, as they improve to 18-4 on the season, and 11-4 in the conference. 

Wright connected on 6-of-11 from the field, while hitting 3-of-6 three-pointers and going 6-for-6 from the foul line. Andrew Seager scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and Marcellus Ross contributed 12 points for Rowan. Damian Smith had a team-high eight rebounds and picked up three steals with Hafeez Melvin scoring 13 and grabbing three steals.

Rowan led from the opening tip and when holding a 19-16 advantage, scored six straight, helped by four from Seager to build the lead up to 25-16. The Profs scored six points in the final 42 seconds of the first half, including a dunk from D’Andre Vilmar, to own a 33-21 halftime lead. 

Rowan stayed in control at the beginning of the second half with a three-point play by Seager increasing the Profs’ lead to 36-22. Wright hit for 13 points, including three three-point field goals, in an 18-8 run over five minutes as the visitors extended the lead to 56-35 at the midpoint of the half. The Profs maintained a 20-point margin the rest of the way to earn the victory. 

Neither team shot well from three-point range, with the squads each making just five long-range shots, but Rowan was consistent from the foul line, converting 17-of-23. 

Next up for Rowan is a road game at NJCU on Wednesday, February 9, with an 8 p.m. start. ​