UNION, N.J. (12/4/19) – Three players finished in double figures as the Kean University men's basketball team dropped their New Jersey Athletic Conference home opener to Rutgers-Newark 71-66 on Wednesday evening.

Chase Barneys totaled 25 points and six rebounds for the Scarlet Raiders who improve to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC. Jailen Jamison finished with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Cougars who fall to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the NJAC.

Newark shot 53.6% from the field in the first half and used a 10-4 run over the final 4:29 to take a 42-31 lead in halftime. The Scarlet Raiders opened the second stanza by extending their lead to the largest of the game at 48-33 with 17:20 remaining. Newark maintained a 10 point cushion before a 9-5 run put Kean within striking distance at 59-55 with 6:50 to play.

After trading baskets for the next five minutes, the Scarlet Raiders held a 67-60 lead with 1:49 remaining. Kean was sparked by a mini 5-0 run that cut the deficit to 67-65 with 52 ticks left on the clock. Jamison assisted on the Kendall Blount triple and went coast-to-coast for the layup during the run.

This would be the closest the Cougars got as Newark iced the contest from the line with four free throws in the final 40 seconds.
Nate Lyles finished with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Jared Latane tallied 12 points and six rebounds. Jeff Cooper totaled nine points, while Jah'Mir Miller finished with eight points and five rebounds.

Head Coach Adam Hutchinson and the Cougars will return to action in Montclair, N.J. on Saturday, Dec. 7^th, against the Red Hawks of Montclair State University at 1:00 p.m.