Men's Hoops Limits NJCU in 48-39 NJAC Victory 

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (1/17/09) - For the second straight game, the Kean University men's basketball team limited a New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent to under 40 points, as the Cougars picked up a key 48-39 victory over New Jersey City University on Saturday afternoon in NJAC action.

Juniors Brian Lytle (Union, N.J.) and Dean Hughes (Pemberton Twp., N.J.) each had 10 points for the Cougars (9-8, 3-3 NJAC).  Freshman forward Rashawn Smalls (Jersey City, N.J.) recorded game-highs of 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Gothic Knights (6-7, 2-3 NJAC), as NJCU was limited to its lowest point output in 55 years.

In a defensive battle to start the game, nearly team scored for more than four minutes until the Cougars put the first points on the board 4:12 into the contest on a jumper by Lytle.  The first half saw five lead changes and four ties, neither team led by more than four points and NJCU took a slim 21-19 advantage at the break.

Smalls had 11 points and nine rebounds in the opening half for NJCU, while sophomore Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.) and senior Sean Carter (Freehold, N.J.) (pictured left) each had four points.

The Cougars took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Hughes with 15:34 remaining in the game.  After the Cougars extended the lead to nine points, NJCU pulled back to within five points with 59 seconds remaining before Kean sealed the win hitting 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch.

Sophomore Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) added nine points and eight rebounds for the Cougars, while rookie Michael Oglesby (Neptune, N.J.) grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and senior guard Yasien Beatty (Jersey City, N.J.) made five steals.

The Cougars battle College of Staten Island in non-conference action on Monday, January 19, at Kean's Harwood Arena, at 1 p.m.