Back-to-back loses put damper on Profs season

The snow may have given the players a break, but it wound up costing them in the end.

The Rowan men’s basketball team, 15-8 overall and 6-6 in the conference, showed its lack of practice in their embarrassing 82-55 loss to Richard Stockton College Saturday afternoon. They followed that loss up with a 73-70 loss to Kean University in three overtimes.

Head coach Joe Cassidy said that the team was only able to practice twice the past 10 days when New Jersey was hit with heavy snowfall, canceling games and closing the campus.

“Obviously we didn’t play well,” Cassidy said. “It’s been 10 days since our last game and we only really got in two practices during those 10 days with the snow and we looked like it. They kicked our [butt] in every aspect of the game.”

Stockton was able to play a game a few days prior, shaking off their rust against Kean in a 46-39 win. Cassidy attended the game and said Rowan’s sloppy play resembled that of both Stockton and Kean last Thursday.

“There were times where we couldn’t catch the ball, we were fumbling the ball, and things like that,” Cassidy said. “If we won today we would’ve had a chance to finish first [in the division].”

Rowan got off to a rough start, in which Stockton started the game out with a 15-4 run. Rowan was able to close the lead to seven points by the half after trailing by more than double that. The second half was just a complete disaster all over again.

“I really don’t know [where we went wrong],” said senior forward Tyson Hartnett. “I guess in the first half we turned over the ball too much and it just continued into the second half. They’re a good team. They played good defense and played good offense … Tonight they were just better than us.”

Rowan’s inability to beat Stockton’s press was the root of their troubles.

“We couldn’t handle their [full-court] press,” Cassidy said. “Their press was very, very effective. We haven’t handled that well all year and I know that is one of our weaknesses.”

Besides the rust, Rowan played most of the game with two of their best scorers, Hartnett and senior guard Allen Pritchett, coming off the bench. Hartnett scored nine points and Pritchett only mustered three.

“This was an important game for us,” Hartnett said. “If we won, we could have gotten first place in the division, but obviously we lost and played not that great of a game.”

The game against Kean Monday night was the next biggest game for Rowan, who is locked in for a playoff spot. Despite losing, Rowan could still earn second place with a win Wednesday against Rutgers-Camden.

“We didn’t make a lot of big free throws,” said Pritchett, who scored 13 points off the bench. “If we would have made more of them, it could’ve been a different outcome. They out rebounded us as well.

“We played extremely well. We fought hard. At one point we were down and brought it back. We just didn’t capitalize on our situations down the stretch. The free throws and rebounds were icing on the cake.”

Sophomore forward Gary Foster stepped up well again for Rowan in place of Hartnett.

“[Foster has] done a great job down low,” Pritchett said. “He’s undersized against these big guys, but has done well for us.”

Wednesday’s game is no doubt an important game for Rowan. If they win, they will play the third place team in the north division as the second place team. If they get bumped to third, they’ll face the north’s second place team.