Kean Outlasts Rutgers-Camden in NJAC Defensive Battle

SEWELL, N.J. (1/14/09) - The Kean University men's basketball team outlasted Rutgers University-Camden, 39-37, in a defensive battle in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at Gloucester County College on Wednesday evening.

Sophomore forward Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) led the Cougars (8-8, 2-3 NJAC) with eight points, while senior guard Bill Banks (Berlin, N.J.) led the Scarlet Raptors (4-11, 0-2 NJAC) with a game-high 15 points, as Rutgers-Camden lost its second straight game by two points.

The Cougars built a 20-16 halftime lead as sophomore forward Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.)  hit all three of his field goals for a team-high six points in the first half.  Banks had 10 first-half points for the Scarlet Raptors.

In the second half, Kean extended the lead to 24-16 after scoring the first four points of thehalf, before Rutgers-Camden used a 9-1 run to tie the game at 25-25 with 13:46 remaining in the game.

The Cougars took the lead for good on a three-pointer by junior guard Dean Hughes (Pemberton Township, N.J.) with 12:33 remaining and pushed the margin out to six points at 39-33 before Rutgers-Camden scored the final four points of the game.  The Scarlet Raptors had a chance at the win, however a three-pointer was off the mark and senior guard Yasien Beatty (Jersey City, N.J.) rebounded the ball at the buzzer to seal the victory. 

Hughes  finished with seven points for Kean, while Jones added seven rebounds.

For Rutgers-Camden, junior forward Chris Clahar (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished with seven rebounds and five points.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, January 17, when they travel to New Jersey City University for a conference match-up.  Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.