Union, NJ: The Kean University men's basketball team used an 8-0 run in the final two minutes of action to defeat Ramapo 78-75 in NJAC conference action. The Roadrunners now stand at 15-6 overall and 9-5 in the conference while the Cougars move to 5-16 overall and 3-11 in the NJAC.
Jason Watson hit back-to-back three-pointers for the Cougars to open the game taking a quick 6-2 lead before Ramapo's
Rob Lewis scored a layup and
Matt Latka added a pair of free throws to tie the game 6-6 with less than 18 minutes on the clock. The Cougars then went on a 21-4 run that extended their lead 27-10, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers by Jared Latane and Watson. Lewis snapped the run as he converted on an and-one play with less than 11 minutes on the clock. A mini 6-2 run by Ramapo was capped off with made free throw from
Andre Morgan with 6:39 left in the half 19-34. Barnes sank a three-pointer to start an 11-2 run shrinking the Kean lead 31-38 with just over one-minute left in the half. Watson would put Kean back up ten with a key three-pointer with 17 seconds on the clock while Jailen Jamison converted on one free throw to end the first half as the Cougars held a 42-31 lead.
The Cougars opened the second half on a 7-0 run before the Roadrunners would go on a 16-4 run of their own. The run was capped off by a layup from
Bryant Quill 49-53 with less than 14 minutes left in the game. Ramapo was 6-8 from the field in the run including one three-pointer. Kean would go on a mini 6-0 run to extend their lead by ten 59-49 with 12:12 on the clock before Quill sank a pair of free throws to start a 15-3 run that was capped off by a pair of free throws from Barnes as Ramapo led 65-62. Lyles would tie the game 65-65 with 6:01 left in the game with a pair of free throws before Quill converted on a pair of his own 67-65. Latane then sank a three-pointer for the Cougars to take a one-point lead 68-67. Battle would go to the line with 5:12 on the clock and sink both free throws to retake the lead before Lewis hit a jumper as Ramapo led 71-68 with four minutes remaining. Ramapo took a five-point lead 75-70 as Quill converted on two separate trips to the free throw line, the second with less than two minutes left on the clock.
The Cougars outlasted the Roadrunners in the final 1:38 of the game as they ended the game on an 8-0 run. Ramapo would get a three-point shot off at the buzzer but could not convert as Kean came away with the NJAC victory 78-75.
Quill led the Roadrunners with 18 points while Lewis tallied his 11th double double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds including two blocked shots and three steals. Battle recorded 15 points and a team high four assists while Barnes added 12 points in the game. Ramapo shot 39.6% (21-53) from the floor, 33.3% (3-9) from the three-point line and 85.7% (30-35) from the free throw line in the game.
Five players for Kean scored in double figures as they were led by Watson with 21 points including 6-9 from behind the three-point line. Latane posted 13 points while Lyles added 12 points and Kerr tallied 11 points and five assists. Jamison posted a team high seven assists while adding ten points and six rebounds. The Cougars shot 49% (25-51) from the three-point line, 42.3% (11-26) from the three-point line and 77.3% (17-22) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday, February 2nd when they host the College of New Jersey in a NJAC conference game at 3pm.
