Harrisburg, PA - The HACC Hawks came up just short in a tightly contested conference matchup, falling 81-78 to Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland on Feb. 3, 2026, at RCSJ. The Hawks matched Rowan point for point in the second half, but a three-point halftime deficit ultimately proved to be the difference.

Rowan carried a 33-30 lead into the break, and the teams played even the rest of the way, each scoring 48 points after halftime. Harrisburg Area Community College generated plenty of offense, attempting 83 shots from the field and finishing with 78 points, but was unable to erase the early margin in the closing minutes.

HACC's defensive activity kept the game within one possession throughout. The Hawks forced 15 turnovers and matched Rowan with 15 steals, turning pressure on the perimeter into transition opportunities. Harrisburg Area Community College also controlled the glass for long stretches, posting a 49-44 edge in total rebounds and collecting 18 offensive boards to create multiple second-chance chances.

Offensively, the Hawks relied on balanced scoring and interior production. HACC shot 34-for-83 (41.0%) from the field while relentlessly attacking inside, as evidenced by just 10 attempts from 3-point range. The team finished 9-for-15 (60.0%) at the free-throw line. Despite the volume of quality looks around the basket, Harrisburg Area Community College could not quite overcome Rowan's more efficient shooting night.

John McNeil paced HACC with an all-around performance, finishing with 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting while adding eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals. His play on both ends helped the Hawks stay close throughout the second half. In the frontcourt, Kaden Folk added a double-double with 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting and a team-high 12 rebounds, providing consistent scoring in the paint and on the glass.

Rowan countered with standout individual efforts of its own. Jamaal Davis led all scorers with 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds to anchor the hosts' offense. Teammate Jameel Purnell delivered a dominant stat line with 20 points and 16 rebounds, along with eight assists and 11 blocks, helping Rowan protect the rim and limit some of HACC's interior chances in key moments.

Harrisburg Area Community College finished with advantages in rebounds, second-chance opportunities and steals, reflecting a high-energy road effort that kept the game in doubt until the final possessions. Although the three-point margin from the first half held up as the final difference, the performance provided a competitive benchmark for the Hawks as they continue through conference play and look to turn close contests into wins.