Brycen Williams scored a game-high 27 points to lead fifth-seeded Rowan to a 73-61 win over fourth-seeded NJCU in the quarterfinals of the NJAC Men’s Basketball Championship. The Profs advance to the semifinals where they will travel to top-ranked Montclair State on Wednesday, February 25th at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the semifinal will go on sale at noon on Sunday at NJACsports.com/tickets. Electronic tickets only will be accepted – there will be no cash sales at the venue.
Williams hit four three-pointers to lead the way while Taz Cantey scored 19 points and handed out six assists. Khalil Baker had nine points, as he shot 4-for-4, and eight rebounds.
The Profs hit eight threes in the game, shooting 42 percent, made 48 percent (11-of-23) from the field and went 19-for-32 from the foul line. Rowan limited NJCU (14-12) to just 1-of-10 from three-point range in the second half.
The teams were tied, 35-35, early in the second half. Rowan started to break away at the 13-minute mark as Williams scored nine points in a 13-1 run that gave the Profs a 60-46 lead with 6:14 remaining. NJCU got within 63-51, but that was the closest the home team would get the rest of the way, as a dunk by Khamai Orange with 3:57 to play expanded Rowan’s lead back up to 65-51.
Rowan made six free throws in the final three minutes to secure the victory.
Rowan led 22-11 in the first half, after a three-pointer by Cantey at 8:49 and then stretched it to 29-13 at 6:40 after seven consecutive points, with five from Williams. NJCU went on a 10-0 run to close within 29-23 with 3:12 remaining and the teams entered intermission with the Profs owning a 34-29 advantage.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will head to the NJAC Championship game on Saturday, February 28th at the site of the highest remaining seeded team.