Union, N.J. (12/5/12) – Junior
Kyle Latorre recorded a double-double as the Kean
University men's basketball team picked up their first win of
the season by handing Rowan University their first loss by the
final of 78-77 Wednesday evening.
Latorre (pictured left) tallied 17 points along with 13 rebounds
as Kean improved to 1-5 and 1-3 in the NJAC. The loss is the
first for the Profs (6-1, 3-1 NJAC) who were led by senior
Kendall White with a game-high 19 points.
Both teams battled in a first half that featured six ties.
With just over two minutes remaining, the Profs broke a 32-all tie
with the backend of two free-throws. Junior Matt
Whitworth extended the lead to four with a trey. In the
final seconds of the first stanza, junior Michael
Burton hit a three to close the gap, 39-37.
Rookie Tommy Soulias and Burton collected eight
first-half points for Kean while White recorded nine for Rowan.
The Cougars took the lead for good early in the second half as
Soulias hit one of his four three-pointers of the night, giving
Kean a 43-41 lead. Kean would push that lead out
double-digits on four occasions in the second-half, the last time
on another trey from Soulias with just under five minutes to go in
the contest (68-58). Rowan battled back and closed within two
as White hit a try with 33 seconds remaining (75-73). Both
teams exchanged made free-throws over the next 27 seconds, setting
up Kean's Anthony Gibson on the line with
3.9 seconds to go. Gibson made the front-end of his chances,
giving Rowan one last shot. The Profs were fouled as time
expired behind the arc, giving them one last chance to tie things
up and force overtime. Junior Rich McNamara made two
free throws to close within one, 78-77, but the Cougars called
timeout before the last shot attempt. McNamara's final
attempt was no good, giving Kean their first win of the season,
while giving Rowan their first loss.
Soulias finished with 14 points while Burton registered a
team-high 18 points to go along with five assists. Senior
Brendan Cox tallied 14 points and eight rebounds for
Rowan.
Kean returns to action on Saturday when they travel to New
Jersey City University for a 4 p.m. tip-off.
