Second Half Surge Sends Kean Past CSI, 89-67

UNION, N.J. (1/15/07) - The Kean University men's basketball team outscored the College of Staten Island, 46-22, in the second half sending the Cougars past the Dolphins, 89-67, in non-conference action Monday afternoon at Harwood Arena.

Senior Bryan Keller (Piscataway, N.J.) led Kean (11-5) with a game-high 18 points as well as six rebounds and five assists. Junior Gari Blackett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with a double-double team-high 17 points and 14 rebounds for CSI (6-9).

The Dolphins stormed out of the gate beginning the game on an 11-2 run in the first two and a half minutes. Sophomore Sean Weismuller (Brooklyn, N.Y.) grabbed the opening tip-off and connected with a layup four seconds into the game to give CSI the lead, a lead they would not relinquish for the entire first half. The Cougars slowly chipped away and closed the gap, trailing by an average of two-five points during the remainder of the half. The College of Staten Island went into the locker-room with a slim 45-43 advantage.

Senior Mike Jones (Washington, N.J.) and Blackett led CSI with ten first half points. Junior Lamar Wright (Galloway, N.J.) led the Cougars with nine points followed by Keller with eight.

Kean came into the second half and dominated taking the lead for good at 12:47 as senior
Steve Koenigstein (Toms River, N.J.) took a pass from Keller to give Kean a 55-53 lead.

The Dolphins kept it close before the Cougars widened the gap with just over five minutes left in the period, ending the game on an 18-6 run. Wright provided seven points in the span while sophomore Karwana Palmer (East Orange, N.J.) connected for six.

Wright finished the game with 16 points while Palmer recorded 15 points and seven rebounds and teammate Keith Mills (Atlantic City, N.J.) registered 12 points in the win for Kean.

Jones ended the game with 12 points and six rebounds for the Dolphins.

Kean heads to the road to take on Rowan University in NJAC doubleheader action on Wednesday, January 17.