Box Score
UNION, NJ – The Kean University men’s basketball team won 73-70 in triple overtime against visiting Rowan University in a conference game on Monday night.
In the third overtime, Kean led by four points (69-65) after forward Jonathan Jones (jr. Linden, NJ/Linden) had a jumper at 3:37. Rowan pulled within one point (69-68) with a basket by forward Tim Matchett (jr. Pitman, NJ/Pitman) at 3:17 and a foul shot by guard Allen Pritchett (sr. Camden, NJ/Woodbury) at 1:15. Guard Vinnie Darpino (sr. Colonia, NJ/Colonia) kept the Cougars on top with a tip-in (00:40) and forward Akinwande Oshodi (sr. Florence, NJ/Florence) made a free throw (00:22) for a four point advantage (72-68). With 14 seconds left, forward Steve Secula’s (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) jumper cut the deficit to two points (72-70). Darpino hit the second of two foul shots to seal the victory (73-70) with two seconds on the clock.
Jones had a three-point play with a layup and foul shot with 1:41 remaining in the second overtime that gave the Cougars a four point lead (65-61). Secula made a basket (1:15) and forward Gary Foster (so. Neptune, NJ/Neptune) recorded the tying shot (00:29). In the first overtime, Foster’s free throw put Rowan up 57-55 at the six second mark. Oshodi nailed a jumper at the buzzer that tied the score.
In the second half, forward Brian Lytle (sr. Union, NJ/St. Mark’s (MA)) tied the score at 44 for the Cougars with 5:38 remaining. Guard Dean Hughes (sr. Pemberton Twp., NJ/Pemberton Twp.) followed with a three-pointer (4:59) and Jones added a dunk (4:03). Kean was ahead by five points (49-44). Pritchett nailed two free throws (3:43) and Foster had a layup (1:59) to trail by one (49-48). Guard Eugene Tolliver’s (sr. East Orange, NJ/Hudson Catholic) three made the score 52-48. The Profs answered with a layup by guard Kendall White (fr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) at 1:24 (52-50). Forward Tyson Hartnett (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) hit a jumper as time expired to send the game in overtime.
Kean is 9-15 overall and 6-7 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Jones ended the game with game-highs of 23 points and 22 rebounds. Oshodi contributed with 14 points and seven rebounds. Darpino and Lytle added 10 points apiece.
Rowan has a 15-8 record with a 6-6 conference mark. Foster totaled 16 points, six rebounds and five steals. Pritchett and Secula scored 13 and 12 points respectively. Secula also grabbed eight boards. Hartnett registered 11 points.
Rowan hosts Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday, February 17 at 8 p.m. in the final game of the regular season.
