Rowan's Meares and Ross Lead Team to Win
Thursday, December 07, 2023
GLASSBORO, NJ – Khalif Meares scored a season-high 28 points as Rowan broke open the game in the second half en route to an 80-57 win over Rutgers-Camden in NJAC men's basketball action at Esby Gym. It was the Profs' second straight win as they improved to 6-3 and 2-2 in the league.
Meares, the nation's leader in steals per game with a 4.9 average, picked up seven more in the win while he notched his fourth straight game scoring 20-plus points. Ja'Zere Noel had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season, and Marcellus Ross scored 18 points to help the Profs.
Rowan used a 17-0 run in the second half, helped by five points from Meares and four from Ross, over a span of three minutes to break open the game, taking a 67-45 lead with over eight minutes to play. The Profs took their biggest lead of the game, a 25-point margin, 72-47, with 7:01 left on a three by Ross. Rowan connected on 19-of-36 from the field in the second half alone.
The teams played a tight first half with six ties and five lead changes. The Scarlet Raptors took their biggest lead, 19-14, as Jordan Trusty-Smith scored five straight points. Consecutive layups by Meares tied the game at 25-25 and after Rutgers-Camden (4-5; 1-3) took a 29-27 lead, Noel scored five of Rowan's final eight points to hold a 35-31 halftime lead.
The Profs kept it going at the start of the second half, putting together a 16-5 run over four minutes stretching into the second half to take a 46-36 lead. Noel had four points and Meares had his second dunk of the game during the spurt.
Rowan forced 19 turnovers by Rutgers-Camden and outscored the visitors, 24-13, on fastbreak points.
Meares, the nation's leader in steals per game with a 4.9 average, picked up seven more in the win while he notched his fourth straight game scoring 20-plus points. Ja'Zere Noel had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season, and Marcellus Ross scored 18 points to help the Profs.
Rowan used a 17-0 run in the second half, helped by five points from Meares and four from Ross, over a span of three minutes to break open the game, taking a 67-45 lead with over eight minutes to play. The Profs took their biggest lead of the game, a 25-point margin, 72-47, with 7:01 left on a three by Ross. Rowan connected on 19-of-36 from the field in the second half alone.
The teams played a tight first half with six ties and five lead changes. The Scarlet Raptors took their biggest lead, 19-14, as Jordan Trusty-Smith scored five straight points. Consecutive layups by Meares tied the game at 25-25 and after Rutgers-Camden (4-5; 1-3) took a 29-27 lead, Noel scored five of Rowan's final eight points to hold a 35-31 halftime lead.
The Profs kept it going at the start of the second half, putting together a 16-5 run over four minutes stretching into the second half to take a 46-36 lead. Noel had four points and Meares had his second dunk of the game during the spurt.
Rowan forced 19 turnovers by Rutgers-Camden and outscored the visitors, 24-13, on fastbreak points.
The Profs head on the road on Saturday, traveling to Ramapo for a 1 p.m. contest. It marks the first of five consecutive road games for Rowan as the next home game will be January 10th against Montclair State.