Bergen Men’s Basketball Defeats Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland, 86–66

Paramus, N.J. — January 22, 2026 — The Bergen Community College men's basketball team earned a decisive 86–66 victory over Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland on Thursday evening at Bergen Community College, improving to 13–7 overall and 12–10 in conference play.

Bergen used a strong second-half performance to pull away, outscoring Rowan 45–31 after taking a 41–35 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs shot 46.3 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game with a 37.9 percent shooting performance overall.

Jakai Irby led all scorers with 23 points while adding 13 rebounds for a double-double performance. Evan Meberg recorded a strong outing in the paint, finishing with 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Jarris Bertram contributed 13 points off the bench, while Jayden Rivera added 11 points to round out Bergen's balanced scoring attack.

The Bulldogs controlled the glass, outrebounding Rowan 50–39, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 21 points. Bergen also knocked down 11 three-pointers on the night and dished out 14 assists as a team.

Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland was led by Jamaal Davis, who scored 19 points, and Jameel Purnell, who added 14 points and nine rebounds. Despite a competitive first half, Rowan struggled offensively after the break as Bergen's defensive pressure increased.

Bergen Community College will look to build on the momentum as the Bulldogs continue conference play in the coming week.