Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College men's basketball team held on for a one-point NJAC victory over Kean University tonight, 65-64. The Roadrunners move to 5-14 overall, 4-8 in the NJAC while the Cougars now stand at 9-10 overall and 6-6 in the league.
The two teams battled right from the start as Kean took a 13-8 lead in the first half on a three-pointer from Daniel Dextraze with 15:36 on the clock. Ramapo responded with a 20-5 run over the next 10:09 of the game.
Tyrell Murchison and
Orion Mickens each tallied six points during the run while
Enoch Hutchinson added five and
Jalen Thomas three as Ramapo led, 28-18 with just over five minutes remaining. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch before Kean ended the half with a three-pointer as Ramapo went into the locker room up seven, 34-27.
In the first two minutes of the second half the Cougars shrunk the Ramapo lead to just two before the Roadrunners went on a 10-0 run. Thomas and
Elijah Barlow sank back-to-back three-pointers before Mickens and Barlow each connected on a jumper for a 46-34 lead with just over 15 minutes left to play. Ramapo extended their lead to 13 two more times over the next ten minutes before Kean made a tremendous comeback. The Cougars would cap off the second half on a 15-3 run to come within one of tying the game as they had possession of the ball with eight seconds remaining. Â Kean would connect on three three-pointers during the run, the final one coming with nine seconds on the clock, 64-65. The Roadrunners would go to the line but could not convert a front end of a one-and-one foul which gave the Cougars the ball back with eight seconds remaining. Kean could not get a shot off before a travel was called, giving the ball back to Ramapo with .3 seconds on the clock.
Hutchinson led the Roadrunners with a career high 19 points while he added nine rebounds, one assist and one steal. Thomas posted 15 points and seven rebounds while Barlow tallied 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Mickens contributed with a big double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds while he posted a team high three blocked shots. Ramapo shot 50% (28-55) from the field, 35% (6-17) from the three-point line and 37% (3-8) from the free throw line.
Dextraze led Kean with 19 points while he added nine rebounds. Kareem Irby tallied 14 points while Malachi Jeffers-Viera contributed with nine points, four rebounds and three steals. Kean shot 36% (23-63) from the field, 38% (12-31) from the three-point line and 85% (6-7) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday, Jan. 31st when they host TCNJ in a NJAC game at 1:00 PM.
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