Men’s Basketball Falls to Rowan in First Round of NCAA Tournament

Jarred Houston ’22 scored 12 points in Emerson’s NCAA Division III first-round tournament game against the Rowan Profs in Glassboro, New Jersey, March 1. The Lions lost to the Profs 96-79.

A 22-point performance from Geoffrey Gray ’19 and a 21-point performance from Zach Waterhouse ’22 weren’t enough, as the Lions fell to the hosts, Rowan University, 96-79, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday, March 1, in Glassboro, New Jersey.

Inside the Numbers:

• Gray converted on 8-17 shots from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. Waterhouse connected on 7-13 and 4-8 from three-point range.
• Jarred Houston ’22 scored 12 points, hitting 4-6 from the field and all four of his free throw attempts.
• Emerson out-rebounded the Profs, 49-37, grabbing 37 defensive and 12 offensive rebounds.
• Houston added three blocks on the defensive end.
• Rowan was led by Nick DePersia, who scored 24 points on 10-16 shooting from the field. DaRon Curry scored 25, connecting on 10-19 from the field. Both Curry and DePersia converted three triples for the Profs.

How it Happened:

• Rowan took an early five-point lead just 30 seconds into the game. DePersia converted a three pointer off of the tip to open the scoring.
• Emerson and Rowan started to trade baskets, with the Lions knotting the score at 10 on a Waterhouse layup just over five minutes into the game.
• Emerson took a one-point lead three minutes later on a Gray layup plus the foul, with Gray converting the free throw, bringing the score to 17-16.
• Rowan took the lead back and then some, opening up a six-point lead with 7:22 remaining on a Curry layup.
• The Lions came right back, knotting the score again, this time on a layup by Waterhouse with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame.
• Both teams traded baskets to close out the half, with Rowan taking a one-point lead into the break, 34-33.
• The second half opened up with Emerson and Rowan trading baskets once again. Rowan took a two-point lead with 15:42 remaining in the game.
• From here, Rowan went on a 20-4 run, opening up an 18-point lead on the visiting Lions.
• The Lions continued to battle, cutting the lead to 14, but were unable to overcome the deficit.
• Emerson fell to the Profs 96-79, ending their season after their first NEWMAC championship in program history. Rowan will play Nichols in the second round on Saturday, March 2, with a game starting at 7:00 pm.

Watch Coach Bill Curley and Geoff Gray’s postgame press conference here.