Meares Scores 24 as Rowan Defeats Kean, 76-66
Thursday, February 06, 2025
Meares shot 9-of-12 from the field, made two three-pointers and converted 4-of-5 free throws, while grabbing eight rebounds. Danny Fleming scored 16 points as he made 6-of-10 from the field and Brycen Williams also went 6-for-10 for 15 points. Taz Cantey added 10 points as he converted 5-of-7 field goals.
The Profs shot 55.8 percent from the field and made 42.7 percent of their three-pointers with a total of nine.
Rowan broke open a close game going on an 18-5 run in the first five minutes of the second half, making four of its first six shots, and getting two three-pointers from Williams to take a 54-32 lead, its biggest of the game. But Kean responded with a 15-5 run to cut the deficit to 59-51 with 8:31 remaining.
Kean (11-10; 9-5) pulled to within, 63-58, on a three from Justin Morton at 5:44 but consecutive baskets by Meares and Williams gave the Profs a 67-58 cushion.
The Cougars cut Rowan's lead to 69-64 with 2:34, but Meares took over, scoring Rowan's final seven points. His three-pointer at 1:09 gave Rowan a 10-point lead, 74-64, and his free throws at :44 sealed the victory.
In the first half, Kean's biggest lead was 25-17 at 8:02 but the Profs fought back with an 11-0 run to go up, 28-25, with over four minutes to play. Rowan shot 54.5 (11-for-21) in the first half and Fleming scored 13 points as the Profs ended up with a 34-32 lead at halftime.
Rowan will be on the road this weekend visiting Ramapo on Saturday in a 1 p.m. start.