Meares Scores 29 but Rutgers-Newark Holds Off Rowan, 70-67
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Prior to the game, Rowan's seniors - Drew Amos, Danny Fleming, Khalif Meares and Jamir Spivey - were honored in their final home game.
Meares hit 10-of-16 from the field and grabbed eight steals, with Tyrese Myrick netting 12 points. Ife Okebiorun added nine points as just six Profs reached the scoring column
With Rowan trailing, 65-63, at 1:06 after a basket by Okebiorun, Rutgers-Newark upped the lead to 66-63 before Danny Fleming got the Profs back within 69-67 at :15. A missed front end of a one-and-one gave the ball back to the visitors and they added a free throw at xx for the final margin. The Profs had one last chance but Meares' three-pointer as time ran out was off the mark.
Rutgers-Newark (7-17; 3-14), which led for all but two minutes in the game, had its biggest edge, 42-31, early in the second half. The Profs would come within a point three times, but couldn't get over the hump.
In the first half, Rutgers-Newark led for all but the first two minutes and built up a 40-28 lead, its largest before Meares hit a three-pointer before the buzzer, cutting it to 40-31 at halftime. The Scarlet Raiders made 50 percent (15-of-30) of their field-goal attempts en route to the advantage.
The Profs close out the regular season on Wednesday, February 19, when they travel to Stockton for a 7:30 p.m. game.