Jones Powers Kean Past Newark with Career Game

UNION, N.J. (1/23/10) - Junior forward Jonathan Jones (Linden, N.J.) recorded career-highs of 23 points and 16 rebounds to post his fifth straight double-double and lead the Kean University men's basketball team to its second straight win with a 70-57 victory over Rutgers-Newark in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Jones (pictured right) led four players in double-figures for Kean (7-11, 4-4 NJAC), as he finished 7-of-13 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the foul line, while senior forward Deshawn Singleton (Passaic, N.J.) had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Scarlet Raiders (13-6, 3-4 NJAC).

In a back-and-forth opening half, the Scarlet Raiders led by as many as four points on several occasions, before the Cougars closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 24-19 lead at the break. 

Jones netted six points in the half-ending run, as he had eight points and seven rebounds in the opening half.  Senior forward Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) added six points for the Cougars, while Singleton led the Scarlet Raiders with 10 points and four rebounds.

The Cougars pushed the lead out to double-digits with a 5-0 run in the second half, taking a 36-26 lead with 14:33 remaining.  A pair of free throws from senior guard Vinnie Darpino (Colonia, N.J.) gave the Cougars at 14-point edge at 42-28 with 11:50 to go, before the Scarlet Raiders pulled back within single digits at 45-36 following a lay-up by senior guard De'Vion Manning (Maplewood, N.J.) with 8:43 left in the game. 

That would be as close as Rutgers-Newark would get, as the Cougars extended the lead out to 15 points on several occasions and Kean would knock down eight free throws in the final 77 seconds of the game to seal the 13-point victory.

Darpino (pictured left) finished with 15 points and two assists, while Oshodi added 12 points and three steals.  Senior forward Brian Lytle (Union, N.J.) rounded out the Kean players in double-figures, as he had 10 points in the win.

For the Scarlet Raiders, Manning and junior guard Michael DeShields (Magnolia, N.J.) each finished with eight points.

Kean resumes action on Tuesday, January 26, when the Cougars host Moravian College in non-conference action at 7 p.m.