The Basics

Score: Rowan 96, Roanoke 86
Records: Roanoke 3-5, Rowan 8-4
Location: Swarthmore, Pa. | Swarthmore Holiday Tournament

The Lead: Rowan used a big run to start the second-half to gain a lead then held off a Roanoke rally to claim a 96-86 win over the Maroons in the championship game of the Swarthmore Holiday Tournament.

How it Happened:

• The Maroons were led by John Fitchett who had 22 points. John Caldwell scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Joey Miller had 16 points for RC, while C.J. Miles chipped in with 10 points.
• RC made 31-of-70 (44.3%) field goal attempts for the game and 14-of-24 from the free-throw line. Rowan shot 50% from for the game, making 32-of-64 shots from the floor in the win. Roanoke held a 43-36 edge on the glass led by Caldwell's 10 rebounds along with Fitchett and Brandon Harrell who each had six boards.
• Rowan was paced by Shawn Wilson who was one of five Profs in double-figures with 18 points.
• With the score 28-21 Rowan with 10:38 to go in the first-half, RC went on a 10-3 run, tying the game on a Miles basket with just over five minutes to go in the first stanza.
• Rowan would jump back out in front 38-33. RC tied the game at 41-41 with 2:32 left on the clock before Rowan scored five of the final seven points to lead 46-43 at the half.
• The Profs came out and scored the first 13 points of the second half, taking a 59-43 lead following a Tomas Malmsjo jumper four minutes in.
• Rowan extended its lead to 70-50 when T.J. Booth knocked down a jump shot with 13:41 to play in the game.
• With the score 75-52, Roanoke rallied scoring 11 unanswered points, pulling within 12 points when a Fitchett three-point play made it 75-63 with 9:45 to play in the game.
• Roanoke continued to chip away and pulled within six points when Caldwell drained a three-pointer with just under two minutes to go to make it 88-82.
• That would be as close as RC would get as Nick Depersia connected on a three-pointer on Rowan's ensuing possession to push the lead back to nine and the Profs would make five of six free-throws down the stretch.

Up Next: Roanoke will break for the holidays and will return home on December 30 when it hosts the Cregger Classic. The Maroons will take on take on Coast Guard in its opening game of the tournament at 6:30 p.m.