NEWARK, N.J. (1/21/23) – Griffin Barker totaled 26 points and seven rebounds as the Kean University men's basketball team snapped a four game New Jersey Athletic Conference losing streak with a 67-65 victory over Rutgers-Newark on Saturday evening.

D.J. Alicea tallied 10 points and six rebounds for the Cougars who improve to 14-4 overall and 7-4 in the NJAC. Shy'Heed Jenkins-Floyd notched 14 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Scarlet Raiders who fall to 5-13 overall and 3-8 in the NJAC.

Alicea scored seven points over the first eight minutes to propel the Cougars to their largest lead of the game at 15-9. Newark answered with six straight to even the contest at 15-15. Kean traded buckets for the remainder of the opening stanza as the Scarlet Raiders maintained a 33-30 advantage at halftime.

In the second half, Barker chipped in with 18 as the Cougars stayed within striking distance. Newark didn't surrender the lead until 90 seconds remaining when Barker cashed in with an offensive board to put the Cougars in front for the first time since the 6:22 mark of the first half.  

Barker was the catalyst down the stretch with three points and a key block with 33 seconds remaining. Newark failed to cash in from the charity stripe, going 2-for-4 in the final 1:15. The Scarlet Raiders had a chance to force overtime, but missed a floater with a second remaining.

Corey Thelisme tallied 11 points and three rebounds, while Jailen Jamison recorded nine points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals.  

Head Coach David Turco and the Cougars will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 25^th, hosting the Roadrunners of Ramapo College at 8:00 p.m.