Union NJ:  The Kean University men's basketball team defeated Ramapo College 77-74 today in NJAC action at Hardwood Arena. The Cougars improve to 7-3 overall and 2-3 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners move to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
 
Following a steal and a game-tying three pointer from Ramapo's Justin Bladen with nine seconds remaining in the game, Kean would get the game-winning three-pointer from Patrick Strzala as time expired. Ramapo had battled back from an 11 point deficit with 12:31 left to play in the game. Mansfield Warren started a 17-4 run which saw Ramapo take a 62-60 lead with 6:43 on the clock. The run was capped off with a layup from Shane Rooney for the go-ahead basket. During the run, Mark Howell recorded nine points, Rooney posted four points and Warren and Jordan Myers each tallied two. A pair of free throws from Kean and a layup from Strzala put Kean back on top, 64-62, before stretching their lead back out to 74-67 with 2:02 left to play. A mini 7-0 run, capped off with the three from Bladen,  tied the game for the eighth time before Strzala sank the game-winner for Kean to earn the NJAC victory.
 
Ramapo saw five players score in double figures as Rooney and Marquise Kindel each posted 14 points and a team high six rebounds each. Peter Gorman recorded 12 points while Howell and  Bladen posted 11 and ten points respectively. Warren dished out a team high five assists while he added seven points. The team shot 53% (30-56) in the game, 62% (5-8) from the three-point line and 56% (9-16) from the free throw line. The Roadrunner defense forced 18 Kean turnovers which led to 24 points for Ramapo.
 
For Kean, they were led by Letrell West who tallied a game-high 27 points including five three-pointers while he added four rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. Strzala added 15 points including four three-pointers while Jailen Jamison finished perfect from the free throw line (6-6) and a total of 12 points and a team high six assists. The team shot 47% (24-51) from the field, 40% (11-27) from the three-point line and 85% (18-21) from the free throw line.
 
The Roadrunners return to action on Wednesday, December 15th when they travel to SUNY Purchase College for a non-conference game at 7pm.