Cougars Fall to Williamson Trade, 61-57

UNION, N.J. (11/20/09) - Senior forward Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) scored a team-high 17 points, however the Kean University men's basketball team fell to Williamson Trade, 61-57, in the team's home opener on Friday evening.

Forward Kareen Walls and center Brian Campuzano each scored 18 points for the Mechanics (4-1). 

In the back-and-forth opening minutes of the game, Campuzano gave the Mechanics the lead for good on a layup with 10:32 remaining in the half.  Williamson Trade extended the lead to eight points as the break after scoring the final five points of the half to take a 27-19 lead. 

The Mechanics pushed the lead out to as many as 10 points on a pair of occasions early in the second half, before Kean used a 10-2 run to close within 51-50 with 5:31 left in the game. 

After Williamson Trade scored the next four points to pull ahead by five points, the Cougars were able to trim lead back to two points at 59-57 on a three-pointer by senior Eugene Tolliver (East Orange, N.J.) with seven seconds to go.  However, forward Zach Tansey knocked down two free throws to seal the Williamson Trade win.

Oshodi (pictured right) hit 6-of-9 shots from the floor and all five of his free throws and also added eight rebounds.  Senior guard Vinnie Darpino (Colonia, N.J.) added 16 points, while junior Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.) chipped in with nine points and four rebounds.

Tansey scored 11 points and had three assists.

The loss is the second for the Cougars (0-1) this season, however the game and individual stats will not be reflected in the schedule or statistics since Williamson Trade is a non-NCAA institution.