Sharp Shooting Sends MSU Past Kean, 80-67

UNION, N.J. (1/20/07) - Junior Jonathan Arthur (Maplewood, N.J.) led all players with 23 points, as Montclair State University defeated Kean University, 80-67, in men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Harwood Arena.

The Red Hawks (8-8, 2-4 NJAC) shot a sharp 58% in the contest (29-50), including a 7-for-14 performance from three-point range.

Garan Dickson (Maplewood, N.J.) had 16 points off the bench for MSU, who was out-rebounded 47-33 in the contest. Junior Lamar Wright (Galloway, N.J.) led the Cougars (11-7, 2-4 NJAC) with 15 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Both teams see-sawed in a first half that featured six lead changes, as well as no advantage greater than four points, up until the final minute and a half of action. With the score tied at 30 all, the seventh tie of the game, the Red Hawks closed out the half on a 7-2 run, to give MSU a slim lead, a lead they would not relinquish, heading into the break. Freshman Charles Miller (Linden, N.J.) broke the tie with a layup at 1:08. After an Eric Sylvester (Orange, N.J.) basket, freshman Mike Hern (Hamburg, N.J.) gave MSU their largest lead, 37-30, with a trey with 30 seconds remaining. Senior Bryan Keller (Piscataway, N.J.) ended the half with a basket near the buzzer for the Cougars, who trailed, 37-32, at the break.

Arthur led all players with 14 first half points, while Hern chipped in with eight for Montclair State. Junior William Floyd (Eustis, Fla.) led Kean with six points, while sophomore Karwana Palmer (East Orange, N.J.) added five.

Kean opened up the second half with a three-point basket from Wright, to pull within two, but that would be as close as they would come for the rest of the game. The Red Hawks surged in the next two minutes on a 9-0 run, initiated by Arthur with a dunk at 19:18 and concluding with a trey by Hern at 17:13. Senior Brett Wyatt (Elizabeth, N.J.) broke the run with a free-throw at 17:01. MSU continued the surge and would extend their lead to as many as 18 points during the next three minutes. Dickson added five points while Sylvester recorded three in the run that put them ahead, 56-38.

The Cougars would continue to battle and pulled within seven on several occasions, but that is as close as they would get.

Hern finished the game with 13 points while Miller rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 for MSU. Freshman Ken Dudley (Willingboro, N.J.) recorded 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Keller had 11 points for the Cougars, while teammate Bryan Miller (Trenton, N.J.) registered nine points and seven rebounds.

Kean will look to break their current skid as they continue NJAC action on Wednesday, January 24 at 8 p.m. here at Harwood Arena against Rutgers-Camden.