Balanced Attack Propels Men's Hoops Past John Jay, 74-43

UNION, N.J. (11/25/08) - Junior Dean Hughes (Pemberton, Twp.) paced a balanced Cougar attack, scoring a career-high 12 points to lead the Kean University men's basketball team to a 74-43 victory over visiting John Jay College in non-conference action on Tuesday evening.

The Cougars (3-2) had eight different players score six or more points, while senior guard Miguel Garcia (New York, N.Y.) paced John Jay with a game-high 13 points. 

In the opening half, Kean went on a 17-4 run to take a 29-17 lead with 4:07 left in the half, as Hughes netted six points in the run.  The Cougars extended the lead to 32-19 at the break, as Hughes (pictured right) had eight points and senior Shavon Hogges (Paterson, N.J.) had seven points to lead the way.  Sophomore forward Chris Jaeger (Hicksville, N.Y.) paced the Bloodhounds with eight points and five rebounds in the opening half.

An 8-1 spurt to open the second half, pushed the lead out to 20 points at 40-20 on a layup by Hughes just 2:45 into the half.  The Cougars continued to extend the lead the rest of way en-route to the 31-point margin of victory.

Hughes connected on 6-of-8 from the floor, while junior Rodlin Pierre (Orange, N.J.) (pictured left) knocked down all three of his shots from the floor and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe to tie his career-high with 10 points in just nine minutes of action. 

All 17 players that dressed for Kean saw action, with no Cougar playing more than 21 minutes in the game.

Garcia hit 6-of-10 from the floor to lead the Bloodhounds.  Junior forward Vaughn Mason (Bronx, N.Y.) added 12 points, while Jaeger grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go along with his eight points. 

The Cougars head north to face Bowdoin College over Thanksgiving break, as they take on the host Polar Bears on Sunday, November 30.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.