Cougars Fall to #10 Richard
Stockton in Overtime, 70-66
UNION, N.J. (2/4/09) - Sophomore forward
Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.) scored 18 points and
had 14 rebounds, however the Kean University men's basketball team
fell in overtime to #10 Richard Stockton College, 70-66, in New
Jersey Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Wednesday
evening.
The victory clinched the NJAC South Division title for the
second-straight year for the Ospreys (20-2, 9-1 NJAC), as they won
their eighth straight game behind 20 points from junior guard
Santini Lancioni (Runnemede, N.J.). Lancioni
finished the game a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul line and hit
four free throws in the extra session to defeat the Cougars (11-11,
4-6 NJAC).
Trailing 59-56, junior guard Vinnie Darpino (Colonia,
N.J.) knocked down a three-pointer 
from the right wing with 4.8 seconds remaining in regulation to
tie the game and force overtime.
In the extra session, the Ospreys scored the first four points
and led by as many as five points at 68-63, before Jones (pictured
right) hit a three-pointer to pull the Cougars back within two
points with 43 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, the
Cougars had tight defensive pressure before a foul with one second
left on the shot clock sent Lancioni to the line, where he knocked
down both shots to seal the four-point victory.
In the opening half, the Cougars took an early 13-8 lead with
11:14 remaining in the half, as senior guard Yasien Beatty
(Jersey City, N.J.) beat the shot clock with a
three-pointer. The Ospreys scored eight unanswered points to
take the lead and would eventually lead by as many 14 points at
34-20 before Beatty hit another three-pointer as the first half
ended to cut the deficit back to 10 points at 36-26 at halftime.
Jerome Hubbard (Neptune, N.J.) led the Ospreys with 12
points on the strength of four three-pointers, while Beatty led the
Cougars with eight points.
In the second half, the Cougars scored 13 unanswered points to
cap a 16-2 run to regain the lead at 50-48 with 11:05 left in the
half, as six different players scored points for the Cougars in the
spurt. The Ospreys regained the lead at 53-52 on a
three-pointer by Lancioni with 8:31 left and the Cougars trailed
just 55-54 with 7:24 remaining. Both teams were scoreless
over the next six minutes, before the Ospreys took at three-point
lead on a jumper by junior forward Omar Smith (Newark,
N.J.) with 1:02 left in regulation.
After the Cougars pulled back within one point on a pair of free
throws by sophomore Akinwande Oshodi (Florence,
N.J.), Lancioni converted a pair of foul shots to extend
the lead back to three points at 59-56 with 13 seconds
remaining. On the ensuing Cougar possession, Darpino
(pictured left) came off a double screen and took the pass from
Beatty to tie the game up with less than five seconds left.
Sophomore guard Kai Massaquoi (Lawnside, N.J.) had 15
points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Ospreys, while the
Cougars shut down Hubbard in the second half and overtime and
didn't allow him to score.
Beatty knocked down all four of his field goals, including three
from long range, en-route to a career-high 11 points, as he played
all 45 minutes for the Cougars. Junior forward Brian
Lytle (Union, N.J.) added 10 points and three assists,
while Darpino finished with nine points and three rebounds.
Kean returns to action on Saturday, February 7, when they travel
to Glassboro, N.J., to take on host Rowan University in a key NJAC
South Division match-up. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
