GLASSBORO, N.J. (Dec. 4, 2024) – The Rowan University men's basketball team scored the first 11 points of the second half to turn its four-point halftime lead into a 15-point bulge as it defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 81-67, here Wednesday night in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game.
 
The Profs improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC with their seventh straight win over the Scarlet Raptors in the all-time series. Rutgers-Camden fell to 5-3 overall and 0-2 in NJAC play.
 
The teams played a tight first half, swapping leads before Rowan took the lead for good at 20-18 on a dunk by senior guard Khalif Meares midway through the half. The game remained close for the rest of the opening half, with the Profs clinging to a 37-36 lead late in the period before freshman guard Nic Johnson hit a trey just before the break to give Rowan a 40-36 halftime lead.
 
The Profs broke open the game quickly in the second half, scoring 11 straight points over the first 3:55, while holding Rutgers-Camden scoreless for the first 5:09 of the half. Rowan's run included four points by Meares.
 
Meares finished with a game-high 23 points for the Profs, while junior guard Taz Cantey added 21 points and senior guard Tyrese Myrick added 10. Myrick led the Profs with seven rebounds.
 
Junior forward Cameron Downs paced the Scarlet Raptors with 19 points and nine rebounds, while junior forward Cherif Kanoute canned 15 points and added a game-high four assists. Freshman guard Ryan Senft added a career-high 11 points, passing his high of 10 against Penn State-Lehigh Valley on Nov. 9.
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 27-for-60 (45.0 percent) from the floor and 10-for-17 (58.8) from the foul line, while Rowan was 28-for-59 (47.5) from the floor and 22-for-29 (75.9) from the line. The Profs held a 40-32 advantage off the boards.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action on Saturday when they host Ramapo College at 3 p.m.