Men's Basketball Drops First Game of 2006

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (12/9/06) - Juniors Lamar Wright (Galloway, N.J.) and William Floyd (Eustis, Fla.) each tallied a team-high 12 points as the Kean University men's basketball team dropped their first game of the season by a final score of 67-59 to host New Jersey City University. With the loss the Cougars fall to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play.

Wright also collected six rebounds for the Cougars who will take on three non-conference opponents in the upcoming week. Senior Bryan Keller (Piscataway, N.J.) recorded a team-high seven rebounds to go along with seven points.

The game was a physical affair with 43 fouls and a combined 56 turnovers, 32 by the Cougars. However, Kean shot just 2-of-16 from three point range (.125), while the Knights converted eight treys.

In a game which featured nine lead changes and seven ties, Kean held a slim 30-29 margin at the half. After a see-saw battle, NJCU used a 17-4 run over the final 6:44 of regulation to seal the win.

The Knights held a slim two point advantage at 61-59, but with 32.7 seconds left and the shot clock winding down, Kevin Tucker (Jersey City, N.J.) buried a three for a 64-59 cushion, to put the game out of reach.