Taz Cantey scored a season-high 25 points and Khalil Baker had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead Rowan to a 83-59 win over Rutgers-Newark in NJAC men’s basketball action.
Cantey made 9-of-13 field goals and grabbed eight rebounds to record his second straight 20-plus point game. Baker notched his third double-double of the season while Michael Pirone contributed 11 points off the bench for the Profs.
Rowan (4-12; 4-5) had built up a double-digit lead in the first half and maintained that for the majority of the second. Rutgers-Newark (3-13; 0-9) cut its deficit to 60-51 with 9:38 remaining, but Cantey notched seven points in an 11-0 run to give the Profs a 20-point margin, 71-51 at the 6:18 mark. Rowan closed out the game with eight straight points in the final 2:19 to keep the game out of reach.
The teams traded leads in the first half until Rowan went on a decisive 11-0 run, with four points from Baker and three by Williams, to pull away with a 37-26 lead. The Profs closed out the half by scoring 10 consecutive points and a three-pointer at :29 by Chris McCarron gave the home team a 47-30 advantage.
The Profs benefitted from a 50-percent shooting effort (17-for-34) in the first half.
Rowan hosts #8 Montclair State on Wednesday evening at Esby Gym in the second meeting of the year between the teams. Game time is 7:30 p.m.