Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Kean University men’s basketball team won 71-66 over Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
The Cougars were led by forward Jonathan Jones (sr. Linden, NJ/Linden) with game highs of 26 points and 17 rebounds. Guard Michael Burton (fr. Irvington, NJ/South Plainfield) contributed with 14 points and guard Andrew Kirey (fr. Millville, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) added nine. Guard Mike Shaughnessy (so. Lindwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) dished seven assists.
Kean has an overall record of 5-2 and is undefeated in the conference with a 3-0 mark. Rowan drops to 3-5 on the season and 0-2 in the NJAC. For the Profs, guard Sean Hughes (sr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) tied his career high with 25 points. Forward Steve Secula (jr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) and guard Kendall White (so. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) each registered 10 points. Secula also grabbed eight rebounds and White had six. Forward Tim Matchett (sr. Pitman, NJ/Pitman) totaled eight points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.
The Cougars scored seven straight points at the end of the game for the victory. Burton’s three-pointer with 1:22 left put Kean ahead 67-66. Jones had a steal at the 52 second mark then Burton nailed a three with 18 seconds on the clock for a four point advantage (70-66). Guard Rob Lewis (jr. Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) stole the ball with five seconds remaining. Kirey made the first of two foul shots at the three second mark.
In the first half, Kean was ahead 9-5 at 16:23 after two foul shots by guard Ali Mix (jr. East Orange, NJ/East Orange). White tied the score at nine with a layup (15:13). The Profs continued with an 8-1 run to lead by seven points (17-10) with 12:08 on the clock. Four players each contributed with two points. Hughes made a layup and a foul shot at 9:28 for a 10 point advantage (28-18).
The Cougars answered with 11 straight points to go ahead by one (29-28) at 5:40. Hughes hit a three (5:18) and White had two free throws (3:18) to retake the lead 33-29. Mix’s layup with a one minute left tied the score at 33. Guard Laud Anderson’s (sr. North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) basket at the 35 second mark put Rowan up by two (35-33) at the intermission. Hughes ended the period with 14 points.
Rowan will host the Heritage’s Dairy Stores Classic on Friday-Saturday, December 10-11. On Friday, Berkeley College plays Gwynedd-Mercy College at 6 p.m. followed by Penn State Brandywine against Rowan at 8 p.m. The championship game is slated for 3 p.m. on Saturday with the consolation game starting at 1 p.m.
