Hot-Shooting Rowan Holds Off Brandywine

GLASSBORO, New Jersey -- Rowan shot 57 percent from the field and held off Penn State Brandywine 107-69 at the Rowan University Men's Basketball Invitational at Esbjornsen Gymnasium during the season opener  for both teams on Saturday afternoon.

The Profs connected on 42-of-73 shots, while receiving a boost from their bench as the reserves accounted for 64 points. Brandywine hung tough with Rowan by connecting on 11 three-pointers and sinking 16 free throws.

Rowan broke open a tight game early in the first half with an 11-3 run capped off by Skylar Moore's layup at the 11:40 mark, making the score 25-12. James Fisher Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Darby) halted the Profs' momentum with a three-pointer, his second of three triples during the opening 20 minutes.

Marcus Turner (Claymont, Del./Chichester) canned a bucket from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to 11, but Rowan held Brandywine to just one basket over a span of nearly three minutes as its lead ballooned to 23.

The Lions rallied, outscoring Rowan 15-6 during the final five minutes of the half. A trio of free throws by Toréy Green (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) with 23 seconds remaining sent Brandywine into the locker room trailing 52-39.

Rowan opened the second half with a 7-2 spurt and extended its lead to 20 points as Moore sank a layup at the 14:37 mark. Another three-pointer from Fisher cut into the Profs' edge, but Rowan scored 14 of the next 21 points to take control of the game. The Profs would maintain their 20-point lead for the duration of the second half.

Fisher led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, which included a 5-of-11 mark from beyond the arc. Cyrie Spencer (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) added 14 points, while Turner was the third Lion in double figures with 12.

Fisher and Pat O'Neill (Morton, Pa./Ridley) both grabbed five rebounds to pace the Lions on the boards, while Fisher collected three steals and Spencer added a pair.

Brandywine, which shot 36 percent (21-59) from the field, was outrebounded 50-30. The Profs hauled in 18 offensive rebounds, scoring 30 second-chance points.

Six Profs turned in double-figure scoring efforts, led by Isaac Robinson's 20 points.

Brandywine looks to bounce back on Sunday in the tournament's consolation game when it faces either Neumann University or Lehman College at noon.